December 5, 2024 • 49 mins
Welcome to the London Club Council! The FAN's Brett Blakemore and Robbie Rosenhaus are opposing fans in England's biggest rivalry. They react to the mercurial nature of Tottenham, and Arsenal only scoring on corners.
The guys on Twitter: @BrettKFAN @robbierosenhaus
The guys on Twitter: @BrettKFAN @robbierosenhaus
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Well 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.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
So boys, let the banter begin.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Welcome into what is sure to be a fiery edition
of the London Club Council. Robbie Rosenounced here representing Arsenal
and a despondent Brett Blake Moore Wilsh we'll hear from
in just one second, representing Tottenham Hotspur, fresh off a
flattering one nil defeat at the Vitality Stadium, could have
(00:44):
easily been three or four. The expected goals were at
least three for Bourne. Myth from what I saw on
Tottenham did not even register one on that scale. So
again Tottenham with an up and down club. And as
I bring Bred in here, and his motions just have
been through the gamut this season. I mean we've talked
to him after a city demolition at the Etty Had
(01:07):
and now we're talking to him after two straight games
where the matches have not gone his way. Brett, welcome in.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Hi, Yeah you said, I'm despondent So I just wanted
to pull a common here and look up the definition
of despondent, even though I know what it is. But
Google says despondent in low spirits from loss or hope
or courage, loss of hope or courage. The similar words disheartened, discouraged, dispirited, downhearted,
(01:39):
low spirited in low spirits, hopeless, crustfallen. That's a good one.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Chres Fallen is also the name of the band I
saw at first AVN you a couple of weeks ago.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Yeah, that's copyright Zach Alverson. Down disconsolates, think about that
in despair, despairing, wretched, I'm going to keep doing that bit, oppressed, melancholy.
I think melancholy is a good one. Woe begone, that's
a classic. Here's one down in the mouth, Never heard
(02:09):
of that, and it sounds dirty, but that's on there
in Google, down in the dumps, and finally, as sick
as a parrot. So I think that all those words,
I think maybe down in the mouth. Maybe I'm not
sure what that is, but I think that can describe
the mood right now, all those words, Yeah, I.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Mean, where to begin, Brett, I mean, you know, today's match.
We both watched it in its entirety, I mean, the
first half, and not to go into too much detail
and intricacies of the actual mach because it speaks to
a bigger problem and we'll get to that and we'll
get to the end of the match in just one second.
But overall, I mean, I've really just never had that
(02:51):
killer instinct mentality. We've seen it from this club. I mean,
we've seen them on the ball, was it the lineup?
Was it Bourne myth? And just the way that they press.
I mean you saw clearly when an example of that
when they pressed for the goal to go up to
nil and it wound up being off sides. It means
that was careless play at the back, I mean, and
(03:14):
forced to play yep, and wants to play from the back,
and and I get that, and a lot of managers do.
Pep does so, and a lot of good stunt for
him lately. But again he's got six Premier League titles
and neither one of us has won in the last
twenty years. But again I digress. And after the match,
(03:34):
you know, I saw a couple of his comments before
we before we started recording here. You know, we need
to do. You know, we need to do better. You know,
I'm taking the but you know he's he falls on
the sword for his players, and I like that in
a manager, but at some point, like when is enough enough? Bratt?
I mean, you watch these players game in game out,
you try to believe in guys like Selanky, you know
(03:56):
the back line. Yes, it's a lapse in judgment by.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Byra and he literally he watched they had they had
they had. It's it's a mix of zone and man marking, right,
So they've got the zone around the six yard box
and then they've got a handful of guys whom man mark.
Radhu was one of them, and the guy who scored
ran around the zone marking and Rader just watched him go.
(04:21):
Literally was a spectator. Might as well have been in
the away end and got a free header on it, which,
by the way, side note elite celebration from born with
doing that. I'm just a chill guy, celebration genius love that.
Here's what I'll say on when is enough enough? Here's
what I'll say, And I'm I want to be upfront
(04:42):
with this too, because I don't want it to seem
like I'm I'm making excuses, and this side was good
enough to win this game point blank and should be
winning this game nine out of ten times. The side
that he put out there, not you know, one hundred
percent squad. The the lineup that he put out there
won this game. Know if ans or butts about it
(05:02):
like they're they're just that good, and they didn't, And
I'm not making any excuses about that. So I want
to be very clear that lineup should have won this game.
And it was a terrible performance all around. Beat but okay,
but we are ravaged with with injuries right now and
(05:24):
now with uh I don't know if you saw, but
in the post game just a couple of months ago,
Ben Davis did his hamstring according to m so he's
going to be out for a long term. We've not
lost three center backs. I don't know what's going to
happen there. Uh Mickey has been training. Haven't seen him.
Romero I think was due to train, is due to
train tomorrow, So we'll see what happens there. Obviously, Vicario
(05:48):
is I mean Forrester had a few you know, bumps
in the back today, but he actually made some good
saves as well. But it's just I mean, Oda Bear
Ri Charleison or to kurrk gets suspended for being racist.
Mikey Moore has an illness that we don't know what
the illness is. But he's been out for like a month,
(06:08):
so I don't know what that entails. Hope he's okay.
So I mean, there there is some extenuating I think
I'm saying that we're correctly factors, but uh yeah, it.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
Just feels like this season, You're sitting at a blackjack table, okay,
and you beat United three to one blackjack, you blow
it too nothing lead at Brighton, you know, the dealer
gets blackjack, you know. I mean it just it just
feels like you're being dealt these hands that are random
(06:45):
but also make a lot of sense. I mean, you
beat west Ham for one and then you lost a
Palace one nil, and maybe they're worst performances.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
I mean I watched a lot of that game. They
were they were I think that was a performance. Yeah, yeah,
they were dreadful in that game. I mean, but you
go beat Villa for one, right, and they dominate them,
and then and then what happens against Ipswich. I you know,
the first half was was equally as bad as the
Palace match. You know, the second half was a little better,
but still there's no excuse. Come out of the gates
(07:16):
against the one of the one of the relegation favorites
in the Premier League can do that, and they come
out and beat City and then obviously the Tottenham, I
mean the Fulham match and they and then today. I mean, listen,
that's what you're gonna get with teams that are you
don't you don't, I don't know if you want to
put this in the despondent category, if we're gonna sit
here for another now seconds. But but your team is mercurial.
(07:41):
It's it's very very difficult as a fan to sit
there and not know what you're gonna get. You know,
and there's there's an old saying in in England. It's like,
you know, it's the forest Gump line that they love
to use. You know, like like a box of chocolates,
you know, you don't know which one you're gonna get,
you pick one out, you know, you buy it or
(08:01):
whatever I mean for you as a fan, Brett, like,
you see the potential, you see some of these results,
the away wins at Villa, the away win at at
you know, at the Etsy had and then you see
these results and it's the same old, same old, and
I hate. I don't want to do the same episode
over and over again, Like I want storylines, and we
(08:23):
may have gotten one at the end of this match
today because it appeared. And I want your thoughts on this,
because you're one of the most positive Spurs fans that
I know, and you try and believe in this manager,
and you try and believe in the way they play,
and you've been very, very defensive when your co host
or somebody on let's say talkSPORT or somebody you'd hear,
(08:44):
or somebody on Reddit or on social media basically go
kind of opposite of how you feel the team should progress.
You know, they went out and you know they got
they got slanky, and you know they're looking at me.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
He wasn't great today. He should have had a goal
or two today. But I still think he should move.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
He should have and we'll see. The jury is still
out on him. And he's only had you know, only
fifteen or so games to twenty matches or so. To
settle into the club, you need a good half a
season at least to kind of settle in. But just
at the end of the match the fans attacked Dange
(09:26):
Pedro Boro went at it with one fan. I saw
the footage. I'm sure you did too. It's not pleasant.
I mean I went through this with Arsenal when they
were going from arsen Wenger to Arteta in the middle,
when they had Uniamri who's now doing a very solid
job at Villa, but he just wasn't a good fit
at Arsenal and it was very, very toxic. I mean
(09:46):
even at the.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
End of there a stretch with Arteta where he lost
like eight games in a row or something.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
Well, at the beginning of his tenure, I believe he
lost the They only picked up either one point or
no points in their first three matches years ago. They
lost at Brentford three nil to open the season. I
believe they lost to City at home one nil, and
then maybe drew somewhere. Either way. The first three matches,
people were calling for his head. And you see how
(10:15):
he's turned things around, and the player procurement has certainly
helped things there. The decisions that he made basically my
way or the highway. Obama Yang out of here, Ozo
out of here, La Gazette out of here, and he
brings in Odegar and he brings in Declan Rice. Well,
I think ket was well out of here. But he
(10:35):
was born. He was in a different category because he
was an academy product. He wasn't He wasn't a higher
gun like Ozo or Obama Yang or Lacazette. Those guys
are higher guns. You know. You bring them in for
big salaries and you know, and they do the job.
Like Todhom I've had them in the past. Every club
has them or or or.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Don't tell that to the anjout crowd. They've never ever
went out for a player who's established, not once.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Well, you know, the fans at the end of the match.
I'm gonna take that group with a grain of salt
because they sat there through, if not the second worst match,
the worst match of the season that they've played other
than the Palace. It's it's in the top, it's on
(11:21):
the metal stand. Let's put it that way. That they
did not listen. I understand you agree say that in
the best case scenario that it would have been won
one today and I agree with that that they could
have They could have Nick Nick won there could have yeah,
but right exactly and should have had four. I mean,
I mean, to be fair, there was that one square
ball that the guy put over the net, h that
(11:43):
he should have put right. I mean, no goalie would
have ever stopped it. I mean it went over the
net when flying ten rows up. But still anything on net,
there is a goal and it's too nil and you're
and you're and the match is over. But about that
reaction at the end, I'm not gonna hold it against
those fans, like I just said, because they were there,
they sat through as we discussed one of the worst
(12:04):
games that they played this year. But you sitting there
on your couch, I mean, do you have any different feelings?
I mean, did you? Did you? Are you going through
the five stages of grief? Is there just anger at
this point? Like like Brett, like you you're you are
the pulse of the fan here. I mean you you
because you try and be as positive and when you break,
(12:26):
then I know that the damn has broken. So like
because you try and stay as positive about this manager,
because you really want to believe in these players and
this manager. But was today your breaking point?
Speaker 2 (12:37):
In what sense that I think you should be gone.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
No, No, just that you're starting to have doubts starting
to creep into your head. Let's put it that way.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
I have doubts creeping air in my head that he'll
be given the opportunity to see this out. Do I
have doubts that he could see this out and then
this could you know, still lead to the end of
the Rainbow project. I have zero doubts about that, I think.
I think if we stayed to course, I fully expect
(13:08):
that Ange will still win a trophy before he leaves
Burst if they stayed the course. What I have doubts
about is him being given the opportunity to do so,
and which which sucks. And here's what I'll say about
the reaction to which as you as we know, there
are three games that are impossible to get away tickets
to Chelsea, Arsenal and borne With. And the reason for
(13:32):
borne With, as we all know, as we heard from
from Robbie Lyle, it's just small the stadium, it's it's tiny,
and only the diehards of the die hards are getting
into that away end. The people who have been there
from the beginning, right and just naturally because they've they've
(13:55):
had to deal with this for for so long. Unfortunately,
they're probably gonna be the first ones to crack. They're
gonna be singing ninety minutes, but they're gonna be the
first ones to crack as well because they've had to
be subjected to this, as Robbie Lyle said, prank for
decades now. So I'm not ripping them because they're entitled
(14:16):
to feel how they feel, but I do think there
is a little bit of context there to be like,
this is the smallest away ends in the prem only
the diehard of the diehard are going to be there,
And yeah, they're in where we were tenth in the table,
and I get the you know, and if me, if
I really am searching as well, we're only you know,
(14:37):
three points out of top four or top five or whatever.
I mean, it's still true. But I just I think
the vocal minority is as loud as it's ever been
right now. And I honestly, and I'm going back and
forth people on Reddit right now, and there is some
I'm seeing some of you know, the just have patients
(14:58):
and my right, my biggest thing is and I got
some votes from my thing. But if we change manager
now and we sack them just because the results are
on going our way. You know, the Premier League form
has been dreadful. Europa League form has been good, you know,
Cup form has been good, but the Premier League has
(15:19):
been terrible. If we just sack him, we're just admitting
that we want to stay the same, all right, We
just we only just want to seek out that top
four and keep moving around and being inconsistent and being
mercurial because we're just looking for that change. We're looking
(15:40):
for a mystical manager who never loses games, who never
has mistakes. I'm here to tell you it doesn't exist.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
You know.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
It's it's like the perfect girlfriend that you're looking for.
She doesn't exist. Or she died last week and she
got hit by a car. You know, it's just it's
it's it's non existent. It's mythical. It's a unicorn. It
doesn't happen. So the only way that we can break
the stupid cycle of Spurs Bowl almost sore a second
(16:09):
time for the podcast is if we stick to a project.
The one time the Spurs, I know, the one time
Spurs had consistent success in our lifetimes has been under patch.
Now he had and he had five years, but they
I don't think that's a coincidence.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
But they brought in serial winners before, like Marinhos won
everywhere he went, didn't win anything there. Kante's won everywhere
he went, didn't win anything there. I mean what I mean,
what do you what do you attest that to?
Speaker 2 (16:40):
There's no project, there's no vision there. There's there's no
idea of we're going to start building a squad around
a manager and how he wants to play. What they
brought in with Kante Mourinho is we've got a pile
of bleep. You make something out of it. Please. We've
got Harry Kane, We've got Sonny and we've got some
dead would too Just make chicken salad out of chicken bleep?
(17:03):
That's what it is. With and or with Potch. It
was a project, it was a It was a foundational building.
And I think if you just tear down the house
because one brick and the foundation is off every two,
you're never gonna have a house. You're just gonna have
a bunch of bricks lying around. So I think sack
and age would be a huge mistake. But I'm very
(17:25):
I'll say this, if they sack and I would be
incredibly disenfranchised from this club for a long time.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
Well, I don't see that happening anytime soon. I mean,
if you want to look at the positive side of things,
even after today's result, they're still alive in four competitions.
They're in the quarterfinals of the Caravelle Cup against a
United side that we're going to talk about in just
a couple of minutes here. That that went down to
Arsenal after putting up a fight in the first half.
(17:53):
So they have a very very good chance of getting
to a Cup semi final, which is something that you
is if I'm sure you know the history that it's
it's very rare that they that they make cup runs
like this, and when they do, obviously they don't finish
the job. So uh, through all this muck and meyer
and these bad performances, you know, I really do wonder
(18:17):
how it would feel come May if you finished eighth
or ninth and the league results just kept you know,
piling up, but you know, you want to Europa League
or you want a Carabeu Cup. I mean, it would
it would feel, it would feel it would at least
be kind of dessert to a burn dinner. I guess
(18:38):
I don't I don't know, like I don't like I've
had that happen with Arsenal where they've won FA Cups,
but they've also finished in the top four. I have
not had a year where they finished outside the top
four but also won an f A Cup. If if,
unless my memory h does not serve me correct, maybe
(19:00):
one of the maybe one of those years with Obama
Yang they won the FA Cup but didn't get into
Champions Like be that as it may. You know, obviously
they went two decades, uh, you know, making the Champions
League every year and winning a couple of cups here
and there, but back to Tottenham before we get to Arsenal, Like,
how would you feel like if they if they did
go on a run and won a cup or won
(19:23):
the Europa League, but also came nowhere close to being
top four.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
Well that's the age old question, right is would you
rather have a trophy? Would you rather have top four?
You know that's been tossed around Spurs, you know for
years now, and I've been consistent on this one time,
just just the once, I would take the trophy for
this year, just the one one. Give me just something anything,
(19:50):
FA Cup, League Cup, and then let's let's say this
did happen. Let's say let's say we win the FA
Cup and we finished ninth this year, let's just say
next season, I would flip and be like, we got her,
we had our fun, we had our cup. I want
top four. That's my biggest priority instead of winning a cup.
I think in most cases that's the way it should be.
(20:11):
But I would just like the one place to just
cleanse their palate a little bit.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
Uh, that's fair. And again and if it's Europa, we
get in the Champions League, so that's that's something else
to be considered. That's that's also true.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
And there's some good teams in Europa League, as we
found out with Roma.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
So yeah, a few years before you actually started following
the Premier League, Arsenal and Chelsea played in the Europa
League Final, if you can believe it, in bah Koop
in the middle of a cool yeah bach correct, Yes, not,
that's an inside joke, folks, Yeah, podcast for two people.
(20:51):
But what wasn't a joke was the way Chelsea just
completely battered Arsenal in that game. I think it was
four nil and Arsenal never lifted. Uh toe Chelsea are
ready in Champions League and Arsenal needed it to get
into Champions League and they put up a complete no show.
So I know how it is to put up no shows,
(21:12):
especially away from home, which is what Tottenham did today.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
I mean born with a good side, especially a teams.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
They've beat City at home, they drew Liverpool and uh
they beat Arsenal and now they've beaten Tottenham, so they
certainly have some home form that that they can go on.
And they're in the top half of the table. You
know another club it's in the top half of the table.
They are, and that's a fresh off of a two
nil win over Manchester United. The first half, you know,
(21:45):
there wasn't a ton of stuff to break down in
this game other than they flipped the switch at halftime.
I mean the first half. United held the ball, They
held the ball by the midway line. They didn't really
advance much. They didn't they did not register a shot
on but they kept possession. Good for them. Arsol didn't
press a lot. They kind of let them have the ball.
They try to play on the counter didn't work. Second
(22:07):
half it was press, press, press, a lot of possession
and then obviously they broke through with with the with
the set pieces, so you know, we can and we
can get to that and that's fine. And that is
a criticism that's come from the Peanut gallery as to,
you know, how our ts score their goals. But if
you look at some of the matches before that, especially
(22:28):
against the Portuguese side midweek Lisbon in the Champions League,
if you look at the west Ham match, they scored
goals from open play. I mean, this is a team
that you know, plays really really good football and it's
because of a few players that really drive the team
and are the engine. But there's one in particular that
(22:52):
had been missing, and since he's come back, I mean,
they're a different side. I mean, and you you know,
and he's your if you can call him that, you're
your favorite player. I shouldn't say a favorite player, your
favorite player to watch on Arsenal.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
Yeah, I don't know. I don't know how to what
would be the correct terminology for that. I have a
lot of respect for.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
Respect, right, No, just it's like it's just a tip
your cap player, it's just somebody you enjoy watching. I
mean I enjoy watching some players on other squads that
I don't particularly like. I mean, I like watching Van Deven,
I like watching.
Speaker 2 (23:24):
Jefferson, right, yeah, right, yeah, exactly. Yeah, So I don't
like watching Cale Williams. So there's that.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
Well that's time. The pig nails aren't for everybody. You know,
Arsenal get the job done, and it was something I expect.
And now at halftime I was sitting there kind of
bewildered and I was not happy. They didn't put in
a good performance. They didn't have a ton of chances.
And then obviously something they they we he's at halftime
(23:53):
because they dominated the second half, and now it could
have been I know, we can talk about could have
shown us. Ryan made a great save I don't know
if he's so full stretch with his fingertips that kept
it at one nil, and then they ran he Is
And you know, I had been wrong on that because
I wanted Ramsdale, but that was more of a sentimental
thing because he's such a good guy and I've just he.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
Doesn't speak Spanish, so I guess I don't I guess
I don't know if he speaks. Does Ramsdell speak Spanish?
I guess you can't assume how the heck?
Speaker 3 (24:25):
How the heck? When I know that that's a question
I usually I usually have the answers to many questions
that one.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
It's more of a toical question. I don't know.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
I can't, I cannot answer. But it was fitting though
that the only match that I've ever been to at
the Emirates, he was there, and he was there saying goodbye,
saying hello and goodbye to his fans. And I was
in that end when he came over and gave his
shirt at the end of the match, even though they
lost three one, he came over and signed autograph, so
that was really nice of him. He seems just like
a good a good person and a good keeper, but
(24:57):
you know he was a great keeper, is Rayah And
that's he's a World Cup winner. He's a euro winner
and he's I shouldn't say a World Cup, he's a
Euro winner and he's he's really really added a lot,
especially with distribution from the back. There have been some
really good balls out that he's that he's contributed to
(25:19):
a couple of chances that I can think of, especially
in the game against west Ham where they really dominated
to go off five mail like us before nil in
that game, so Arsenal get the job done to nil.
Kind of a whole home win. I mean, Manchester United,
they had some decent results, but now they're still starting
to kind of grasp the system that Ama rim Is
(25:42):
is putting in there. He made some interesting changes. He
took Rashford out of the starting lineup and didn't bring
him on till later, which I thought was interesting because
Rashford has a history of scoring against them. Anthony, I didn't.
I didn't really notice he's and you really don't notice
him when he's out there there. But again, I'm very
happy with with with with this match because it's gonna
(26:05):
be no picnic this week against a hot Fulham side
that got a result against your side and also just
beat a Brighton side three one today.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
And that's a huge result.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
And they have a couple of former Arsenal players in
the team, including M. L. Smith Row that would love
nothing more than to have a good performance against an
inform Arsenal side. So Arsenal sit, like we discussed in
the top four after that two nil win, Brett.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
I'm just looking over at the stats, which here I
like to do the XG bit. I know not everyone
subscribed to that. But here's the good news and the
bad news for the Gunners and the x G. The
good news is against United. Do you see United's expectacles
zero point two two?
Speaker 3 (26:53):
Yeah, yeah, awful open.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
Play XG for United zero point zero three. They generated
nothing zilch.
Speaker 3 (27:03):
Yeah, they didn't do anything. They were passing the ball around.
It looked like there's a there's an old skit on
an old Simpsons episode where all the soccer stars come
to town and they yeah, exactly, they and they play
in front of all the Springfieldians, I think that's what
you call them. And it's Homer and it's Bars and
it's it's Barney, and it's all his friends or whatever,
and they're all at the game and they're basically just
(27:25):
standing around the center circle passing the ball back to
one another and they don't move, and somebody says, come on,
do something. Well, that's kind of what United were doing.
They were just kind of it was they were hitting
the X button on on PlayStation back and forth. They
were just completing short passes.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
It was that's the A button for U Xbox Yes.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
Correct, yes, thank you, thank you for clearing that up.
But again, it was it was a poor performance by
United and Arsenal get the three points to stay right
in line with Chelsea Football Club, who we can talk
about next. And that's our next opponent. But before we
get to.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
That, yeah, real quick. Also Xbox the superior console. But
that was the good news for Arsenal and the XG.
The bad news is your XG as a game was
two point one six, which fair. He scored two goals.
You're XG and open play zero point five six. That's
not good. The fans learned right.
Speaker 3 (28:25):
And they did generate a lot through there because United
really kept crowding the box. They didn't they didn't have
a lot of good chances. Ohnana, I will say this
had a really good game. I thought he was not
responsible for the set piece goals. I thought he commanded
the box well, especially since Arsenal had oh, I don't know,
fifteen corners in the entire match, you know me, United
(28:47):
had as many as you and I. So that was
like a dam that was ready to break. And when
you're as proficient in set pieces as Arsenal is and
and people like to call an old school but there's
a lot of pushing going on in the box. But
I mean you saw today. I mean, a perfectly executed
(29:08):
set piece is the kryptonite for teams. Uh, you know
who can defend well, you know in open play and
when you get in in a scenario like that, you know,
anything goes. And Arsenal Arsenal have two guys Soccer and
Rice from the right and left who take amazing corners
(29:31):
and you know, nine times out of ten it's going
to be in the spot where you know it needs
to be. And and and let me just say this
in in closing on the on the corner stuff, I mean,
this isn't something that they just work on that week,
like they have a set piece coach. He came from
Manchester sitting Nicola Jovert, So this is something that they
(29:55):
work on and I believe, and again you're a enormous
fan of both of these sports. But I'm going to
compare it to hockey, where it's like, if you have
five guys on the ice.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
Can we talk about the wild? They're doing great. I'd
rather talk about the wild right now in the.
Speaker 3 (30:14):
Pre we don't we don't even need the electrometer copyright
common for the for a while, you know, they are.
Speaker 2 (30:21):
The priest offs in the conversation for the heart. Can
we talk about that instead of the Spurs performance today?
Speaker 3 (30:26):
They're rolling, No, they're they're rolling right along. Continue here, No,
just I lost my trainers off there. I find I distracted.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
You were comparing the corners to hockey.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
Oh, well that again, So it compares to a power play.
It's like if a team has a really good power play, okay,
and it's like, well a five on five. Now, I
will say.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
That I don't hate where you're going here.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
I will say this though, when it comes to the playoffs,
it's different in hockey because the power plays don't come
as much the set pieces age. It's just based on
your play. So yeah, while while you want to criticize
the set pieces and and and and people want to say, oh,
that's where they get the goals from. What sets up
(31:18):
the set pieces? Brett good open play right, creating corners,
creating fouls from the other team in advantageous places, you know,
being being good on the ball and also you know,
getting the other team's defense out of place so that
they do, you know, have to commit these fouls and
(31:41):
force you to you know, be in in in these
positions where you can convert uh. And it's like in
hockey where if you're doing the right things and you're
in the right places and you're moving your feet and
and you know, and you're you know, and you get
and you get hooked or you get tripped, it's because
you're in the right place and the defense is a
(32:02):
step behind. And that's kind of what I feel on
the pitch here. It's like okay, and then you know,
the wild or whoever will go on the power play
on the score goal, and it's like, okay, great, you
know you didn't score. You know, you didn't score even strength,
but you know you scored two power play goals tonight
and you won four to two, but it was really
only two two at even strengths. I mean, you can't
(32:23):
really criticize that because the bottom line is it's all
part of the game. I hate when people in baseball
say that a team is all power pitching and power hitting.
What's the object of the game To hit the ball
out of the to hit the score runs. To hit
the ball out of the ballpark. So I don't care
how many times you strike out. If you strikeouts as
(32:45):
good as a groundown. And I know all the analytics
people and everything else.
Speaker 2 (32:48):
That's the first thing you said that I disagree with.
But we don't have to go into baseball. But I
get your point.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
But the major point again, just it's to the major point.
Home Runs are a big part of baseball. Strikeouts are
a part of baseball. Set pieces are just a part
of football, just like the power players are part of hockey.
It comes down to can you execute with the players
and within the constraints of the game and what you're given,
(33:15):
and if you're going to create chances and this is
the best way you think and it's sustainable, which clearly
it is. I mean, they've scored the most set piece goal.
This isn't something that they've done for like a month
and then all of a sudden it's going to go away,
like they know what they're doing. You hear the crowd
they build up. It's it's quite amazing. And when I
say this, and I know you don't remember because you
(33:36):
weren't watching back eight ten years ago, they were the
worst set piece team in the league. I mean, it
was cringe worthy when I had to watch. And not
to name all the defenders, but there were guys like
Chuck Round Mustafi and some other different David Luiz, some
other guys that were back there. They just were that
were international players that just had no idea how to
(33:59):
defend these pieces that we'd give up pulls all the time.
So now the shoes on the other foot, and now
they're actually taking advantage of it and they've done a
one eighty. And I give the coaching staff and the
players full credit for really kind of leaning into it
and not being ashamed of any comments or corner refc
(34:20):
or banter or anything like that, because you know what,
they're pulling out results and a couple of weeks ago,
a lot of people thought they were out of the
title race, and I think they're right back in.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
Well, I don't well that to me. We'll see about
the title race, but you're definitely pulling out results and
there's no shame in the corners. Let's let's talk Chelsea
here speaking of title race, because just pulling up there,
are we good on Arsenal? Do we feel like we?
Speaker 3 (34:43):
Yeah? No? And they're going to take on Fulham this week,
which again is a tricky match. I I can see
them dropping points here. I mean Fulham's an informed style.
Speaker 2 (34:53):
You know, they're a fun and frisky team and I.
Speaker 3 (34:55):
Wouldn't I would not be surprised if they did. But
if they get a result this week, and that is
probably their toughest match for the rest of the calendar year,
they have a couple of games against Crystal Palace. They
have a game against Everton in there, who won four
nil there, but they beat a wolfside that just terrible
and in relegation battle. So if Arsenal can pull out
(35:19):
this result this week, they may have a really good
run here through the holidays and into Boxing Day. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (35:27):
Let's let's talk Chelsea though, to just move things along here,
because they are in absolute killer form. They're doing the
things that I wish Spurs would do, which is that
is go to lower sides and just kill them. Five
to one winners at Southampton, which by the way, I
(35:48):
was telling friend of the show Jesse, who's the Chelsea
friend in our group chat, that was a place, you know,
a couple of years ago where I think they lost
like three nil Southampton on the road, like in the
depths of the downswing of Chelsea, I mean, And it
just shows the transformation and I see here their next
(36:11):
match obviously is Spurs and it has like a little
on this website I use foot mom has a little
like here's a snapshot of the stats. So goals per
match Spurs two, Chelsea two point two goals conceded per match.
Both are tied at one point zero seven goals conceded
per match. Yet the top one the top stat as
(36:32):
table position Chelsea two, Spurs ten. So I think that
about sums up the run that Spurs are having, finding
a way to grasping defeat from the jaws of victory
lots of times. But we've talked enough about Spurs. This
Chelsea side man, and they're they're for real. They don't
(36:52):
they don't play down a level of their competition anymore.
The only one that they may have was that United game.
But other than and I mean like Leicester or two,
I thought they were still decent in that game. They
had a ton of the ball in that game. So yeah,
I'm nervous, and I'm nervous. What's going to happen if
Slash win Spurs lose that game. I'm well, very concerned.
Speaker 3 (37:15):
Well, this is clearly one of your biggest rivals. We
know the history of the fixture. We know that a
few years ago there was managers with a dust up
on the sideline. You know. We know last year one
of the matches wound up in chaos as well. So
I just the way that Chelsea's going and the way
(37:38):
that Spurs are playing right now. Other than holding on
to the fact that the box of chocolates theory where
you can see them pop up and do what they
did to City, I mean, I wouldn't be holding out
too much hope that they're going to get any type
of result this week against an inform Chelsea side that
is scoring goals. And not only that, but now they're
(38:02):
starting to keep keep clean sheets and that's something that
they were not doing even when they were winning games
earlier this year. They were allowing goals. But now they're
you know, starting to keep some some clean sheets, and uh,
you know, it's a testament to the manager. It's a
testament to some of these players that have been for
(38:23):
the Ringers since they've been there. They don't know, you know,
if they're going to play if they don't, you know,
that's that's what's so good about not to go back
to Arsenal. But I mean, other than a few of
the changes that he made going into this match, where
he started some some different guys due to injury, like
Califiori was out as well as Gabriel was out, so
(38:45):
he started Curiore and he started Martinelli upfront. Z Chenko played,
so there was there were some different players, but the
same eleven for the most part when oder Gard is healthy,
the same back for and I know Ben Ben White hurt,
but they have the same lineup. And it helps when
(39:06):
you know that you you have a role and you're
you know that you're gonna play every week. And I
think that's what Chelsea is kind of settling into, where yeah,
they they do have a ton of depth and and
and Nico Jackson didn't even play in this last match,
but he knows that he's he's the first choice striker
for them, but he knows that he's he's been doing
the job and and and they're and they're really moving
(39:28):
in the right direction. I thought that they were a
year ahead of schedule last year, and it turns out
they're right on time this year. I was wrong last year,
although they showed signs late in the year, and now
this year they're certainly pushing for that top four. I
wouldn't say they're the title contender. Yet all the social
media and all the all the coverage, is Chelsea a
(39:50):
title contender? Are they in the mix for for the title? Well?
I don't think it's it's there yet.
Speaker 2 (39:57):
Uh the form would say otherwise.
Speaker 5 (40:00):
But I need to see it through the through the
winter months and and and come out of the.
Speaker 3 (40:10):
Next international break, perhaps in March, where there's like, you know,
eight eight games to go and there within and then
within a few points now top four absolutely, I mean
they should their fans and their and their ownership and
their players should absolutely think that that that is a
realistic goal. So or so is a cup run. So
(40:30):
is a run in? Uh in in your in the
conference league. So Chelsea have the same things going for them.
It's time to do The difference is one team is
playing really well and the others not.
Speaker 2 (40:43):
I'll say this, going back to the box Chocolate's bit,
would it not be the most spursy thing to just
show up and just win like three?
Speaker 3 (40:50):
No, that's why they keep pumping you in because it's
I told you, it's like blackjack. You're addicted. If you
go to the you don't know what two cards are
coming out.
Speaker 6 (40:59):
We consider the black table and you can get five
blackjacks in a row, pick up your money, and we
can go home for the night. Or you could sit
there and get five six teams in a row against
face cards and draw you know, and draw you know
ten ten.
Speaker 2 (41:13):
And the casino doesn't allow surrenders either.
Speaker 3 (41:15):
So exactly the worst. So again, this is what this
is what you know. I have a love hate relationship
with with black check. I love to play and hate
to loose.
Speaker 2 (41:25):
Yeah, exactly, yeah. I think best case scenario for that
game is Romero and Van Deven both managed to get healthy,
and I know they've both been training. I know they're close,
but especially with Ben Davis going down, I mean we're
gonna have to start Archie Gray at center back.
Speaker 3 (41:43):
Yeah, I know which is which is the real? I
mean he moved back there today. I saw he, you know,
when they made some subs, he had to move his position.
I thought he had some good hold up play early.
But again, he's a kid. He's a kid. You're trying
to win games in the Premier League. You can't trust
all these ran apply Listen. I am not blaming and
for his selections today because he clearly was.
Speaker 2 (42:06):
He was rotating today dude, Yeah, he was. He was
rotating for Chelsea one hundred percent. Usually he's he's been
taking out sign it like the sixtieth minute. Today he
brings him on at like the seventieth Poro sitting as well,
but he.
Speaker 3 (42:21):
Took Madison off at like the eightieth minute. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (42:24):
Well, I actually thought he was decent in the midfield,
and the final thirty was terrible, but terrible in the
final time, I.
Speaker 3 (42:31):
Would agree there was one glorious chance that they had
that I'm not sure how at the phone out of
the run. Yeah, that I don't know how you can
finish that. That one. You probably jumped up on your
couch and said, oh my god. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (42:41):
I thought the sunny one was a goal to until
I saw the very first replay and I was like, oh, yeah,
that's not mad.
Speaker 3 (42:47):
No, no, no, no, and he goal.
Speaker 2 (42:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (42:51):
I don't know if you heard on the coverage, but
he pointed himself, he goes, who'll be you actually heard?
Speaker 2 (42:55):
Fully convinced you.
Speaker 3 (42:56):
Actually heard him on the coverage.
Speaker 2 (42:58):
So that's another reason I was excited, because he was
so sure he was on side. So I'm like, surely
it's it's on, and he's like Miles just.
Speaker 3 (43:06):
Like it's just just like when your favorite baseball player,
like a coon here a Riley or Chipper Jones goes it,
goes in and says he got hit by a pitch,
but he never got hit Oh my elbow, no, no, no,
or somebody yeah, oh yeah, you can go to hockey.
Oh I got high stick. No you didn't.
Speaker 2 (43:23):
Yeah you bit you bit your lip for a double minor.
Speaker 3 (43:26):
But I hope this But and we can and we
can talk about the the other clubs in the Big
six year briefly before before we wrap up, and just
kind of preview the upcoming week as we uh as
we approach an hour here on the London Club Council,
Bright Blake more representing Tottenham, despondent, and Robbie Rosenes here
representing Arsenal.
Speaker 2 (43:48):
And I think deep in the mouth I think it was.
Speaker 3 (43:52):
I think I think so yeah, I think I think
deep in the mouth. I believe that was. That That's
that should be. Maybe who knows, maybe it'll be the
title of the of the episod. But Liverpool they said
at the top of the table, and these are this
is the team that you're chasing. This is the team
that I'm chasing. This is the team that Chelsea's chasing,
and we'd be remiss if we did mention that three
(44:12):
to three draw against Newcastle over the weekend. I thought
it was a fascinating watch. I thought it was the
best match of the weekend and really Liverpool should have
won the game. I mean, if you saw that last goal,
the keeper has to play that ball. I mean, somebody
sneaking in the back to Fabian shar seeking to sneaking
in the back door. There cannot happen, especially in the
(44:33):
ninety something minute. So Liverpool dropped points and gives hope
to teams like Chelsea and Arsenal and even Manchester City
who got back to their winning ways three nil, I thought,
on Liverpool or Manchester City.
Speaker 2 (44:43):
Brett, I think Liverpool it's their title to lose. I mean,
I know it's December fifth, but I mean you're thirty
five points, you have one lost, two draws so far
in fourteen matches. I mean that's just unreal. So I
think it's there to lose. I don't know how City
go from here. I do think they're starting to age
out a little bit, but who knows, Maybe we'll see
(45:05):
prime City and they'll surge back. I mean, there are
two points out from you and Chelsea tied at twenty
eight points. So but I just think it's everyone's beating
up on each other in the two through five spot.
I just think Liverpool until they really start, like, they
need to lose a couple of games for me to
be like, Okay, maybe this title race is a thing.
(45:27):
And I'm not saying that. I get that number two
is Chelsea, Number three is Arsenal, and I get that
I can just rip them. But I just think Liverpool
are so good right now that it's theirs to lose
in my opinion.
Speaker 3 (45:38):
Well, they have a couple of tricky matches coming up.
I mean, the the going to Goodison Park is never
easy because it's a rival. It's just like Cottenham playing Arsenal.
Doesn't matter how good the clubs are, it's always for.
Speaker 2 (45:51):
About the record books.
Speaker 3 (45:52):
Yeah, exactly. Yeah, And they welcome fall in love that one,
they welcome full them in. Who's who's an informed side?
But then they they have to go to your side
before the end of the year, and you know that
won't be that won't be easy. Depending on how you're
how healthy your I would assume by the mid to
(46:14):
late December that you'd have at least some of these
players back and be able to give Liverpool some sort
of fight, especially since the game is home. I know
the matches at home haven't been to your liking, and
they've and they've dropped quite a few there, the ipswitch
match notwithstanding. But you know, Tom, Tom Damer in the
mud right now, and we'll see if they and will
see if they come out of it. I like the
(46:38):
fact that you're standing behind the manager and you're not
throwing them out with the bathwater, because you're right, And
just to kind of sum it up here as we
as we as we kind of close another episode, your
overriding view about staying the course really uh is admirable
and also something that I took to as well, because
(47:00):
I never wavered. We weren't doing this pod, but I
never wavered on Ourteta like I never once set our
Teta out, and even when he struggled, and even when
we were in our group chat and when I met
you a few years ago and and we had some
struggles and they blew the Champions League and Tottenham got
in right as I met you back in twenty two
(47:21):
and then yeah, and then obviously, you know last year
they led the league until they didn't. But I admire
that you're trying to stick with him now. It could
go one of two ways, clearly, and that's not you know,
and that's not break breaking any news here. But if
you firmly believe in him, then maybe the players do too.
And you know, I just kind of block out the
(47:43):
noise and we'll see where it goes from here as
a big match with Chelsea awaits on the weekend.
Speaker 2 (47:49):
The definition of insanity is to try the same thing
and expect different results. And I understand that could be
turned into firing and because we're getting different results and
the same result over and over. But I would say
my response, that would be trying the same thing over
and over again, would be changing managers because that's what
we've been doing for the last decade plus and it
(48:11):
hasn't worked. And if they think that, to me, that
would be the definition of insanity is to sack and
and do the same exact thing over and over again
and expect different results. It would just lock us in
to this mediocre mercurial squad.
Speaker 3 (48:26):
Well that's my thoughts, and I responded, now that's fun.
Despondent and your curial coming to a theater yes near you.
That's Brett Blake more representing Tottenham. He's not desponding, he's
actually smiling. We're on video and he's actually smile because
for the first time in this in this bit, well,
he's about to watch as green Bay Packers play.
Speaker 2 (48:45):
There again, we're almost done talking about Spurs and I
get to watch a winning team in the green Bay Packers.
Let's call the biggest game of the year.
Speaker 3 (48:54):
Let's go yes, so Lions Packers coming up. We're taping
this on Thursday afternoon for those of you who are listening.
We'll be back early next week. After this round of fixtures,
Arsenal and Tottenam both playing the same day. Arsenal will
take on Fulham Sunday morning and then Chelsea and Tottenham,
with the main stage on Sunday afternoon for Brett Blake,
(49:14):
Moore and Robbie Rosenhales. This has been a jam packed
edition of the London Club Council
Well 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.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
So boys, let the banter begin.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Welcome into what is sure to be a fiery edition
of the London Club Council. Robbie Rosenounced here representing Arsenal
and a despondent Brett Blake Moore Wilsh we'll hear from
in just one second, representing Tottenham Hotspur, fresh off a
flattering one nil defeat at the Vitality Stadium, could have
(00:44):
easily been three or four. The expected goals were at
least three for Bourne. Myth from what I saw on
Tottenham did not even register one on that scale. So
again Tottenham with an up and down club. And as
I bring Bred in here, and his motions just have
been through the gamut this season. I mean we've talked
to him after a city demolition at the Etty Had
(01:07):
and now we're talking to him after two straight games
where the matches have not gone his way. Brett, welcome in.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Hi, Yeah you said, I'm despondent So I just wanted
to pull a common here and look up the definition
of despondent, even though I know what it is. But
Google says despondent in low spirits from loss or hope
or courage, loss of hope or courage. The similar words disheartened, discouraged, dispirited, downhearted,
(01:39):
low spirited in low spirits, hopeless, crustfallen. That's a good one.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Chres Fallen is also the name of the band I
saw at first AVN you a couple of weeks ago.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Yeah, that's copyright Zach Alverson. Down disconsolates, think about that
in despair, despairing, wretched, I'm going to keep doing that bit, oppressed, melancholy.
I think melancholy is a good one. Woe begone, that's
a classic. Here's one down in the mouth, Never heard
(02:09):
of that, and it sounds dirty, but that's on there
in Google, down in the dumps, and finally, as sick
as a parrot. So I think that all those words,
I think maybe down in the mouth. Maybe I'm not
sure what that is, but I think that can describe
the mood right now, all those words, Yeah, I.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Mean, where to begin, Brett, I mean, you know, today's match.
We both watched it in its entirety, I mean, the
first half, and not to go into too much detail
and intricacies of the actual mach because it speaks to
a bigger problem and we'll get to that and we'll
get to the end of the match in just one second.
But overall, I mean, I've really just never had that
(02:51):
killer instinct mentality. We've seen it from this club. I mean,
we've seen them on the ball, was it the lineup?
Was it Bourne myth? And just the way that they press.
I mean you saw clearly when an example of that
when they pressed for the goal to go up to
nil and it wound up being off sides. It means
that was careless play at the back, I mean, and
(03:14):
forced to play yep, and wants to play from the back,
and and I get that, and a lot of managers do.
Pep does so, and a lot of good stunt for
him lately. But again he's got six Premier League titles
and neither one of us has won in the last
twenty years. But again I digress. And after the match,
(03:34):
you know, I saw a couple of his comments before
we before we started recording here. You know, we need
to do. You know, we need to do better. You know,
I'm taking the but you know he's he falls on
the sword for his players, and I like that in
a manager, but at some point, like when is enough enough? Bratt?
I mean, you watch these players game in game out,
you try to believe in guys like Selanky, you know
(03:56):
the back line. Yes, it's a lapse in judgment by.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Byra and he literally he watched they had they had
they had. It's it's a mix of zone and man marking, right,
So they've got the zone around the six yard box
and then they've got a handful of guys whom man mark.
Radhu was one of them, and the guy who scored
ran around the zone marking and Rader just watched him go.
(04:21):
Literally was a spectator. Might as well have been in
the away end and got a free header on it, which,
by the way, side note elite celebration from born with
doing that. I'm just a chill guy, celebration genius love that.
Here's what I'll say on when is enough enough? Here's
what I'll say, And I'm I want to be upfront
(04:42):
with this too, because I don't want it to seem
like I'm I'm making excuses, and this side was good
enough to win this game point blank and should be
winning this game nine out of ten times. The side
that he put out there, not you know, one hundred
percent squad. The the lineup that he put out there
won this game. Know if ans or butts about it
(05:02):
like they're they're just that good, and they didn't, And
I'm not making any excuses about that. So I want
to be very clear that lineup should have won this game.
And it was a terrible performance all around. Beat but okay,
but we are ravaged with with injuries right now and
(05:24):
now with uh I don't know if you saw, but
in the post game just a couple of months ago,
Ben Davis did his hamstring according to m so he's
going to be out for a long term. We've not
lost three center backs. I don't know what's going to
happen there. Uh Mickey has been training. Haven't seen him.
Romero I think was due to train, is due to
train tomorrow, So we'll see what happens there. Obviously, Vicario
(05:48):
is I mean Forrester had a few you know, bumps
in the back today, but he actually made some good
saves as well. But it's just I mean, Oda Bear
Ri Charleison or to kurrk gets suspended for being racist.
Mikey Moore has an illness that we don't know what
the illness is. But he's been out for like a month,
(06:08):
so I don't know what that entails. Hope he's okay.
So I mean, there there is some extenuating I think
I'm saying that we're correctly factors, but uh yeah, it.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
Just feels like this season, You're sitting at a blackjack table, okay,
and you beat United three to one blackjack, you blow
it too nothing lead at Brighton, you know, the dealer
gets blackjack, you know. I mean it just it just
feels like you're being dealt these hands that are random
(06:45):
but also make a lot of sense. I mean, you
beat west Ham for one and then you lost a
Palace one nil, and maybe they're worst performances.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
I mean I watched a lot of that game. They
were they were I think that was a performance. Yeah, yeah,
they were dreadful in that game. I mean, but you
go beat Villa for one, right, and they dominate them,
and then and then what happens against Ipswich. I you know,
the first half was was equally as bad as the
Palace match. You know, the second half was a little better,
but still there's no excuse. Come out of the gates
(07:16):
against the one of the one of the relegation favorites
in the Premier League can do that, and they come
out and beat City and then obviously the Tottenham, I
mean the Fulham match and they and then today. I mean, listen,
that's what you're gonna get with teams that are you
don't you don't, I don't know if you want to
put this in the despondent category, if we're gonna sit
here for another now seconds. But but your team is mercurial.
(07:41):
It's it's very very difficult as a fan to sit
there and not know what you're gonna get. You know,
and there's there's an old saying in in England. It's like,
you know, it's the forest Gump line that they love
to use. You know, like like a box of chocolates,
you know, you don't know which one you're gonna get,
you pick one out, you know, you buy it or
(08:01):
whatever I mean for you as a fan, Brett, like,
you see the potential, you see some of these results,
the away wins at Villa, the away win at at
you know, at the Etsy had and then you see
these results and it's the same old, same old, and
I hate. I don't want to do the same episode
over and over again, Like I want storylines, and we
(08:23):
may have gotten one at the end of this match
today because it appeared. And I want your thoughts on this,
because you're one of the most positive Spurs fans that
I know, and you try and believe in this manager,
and you try and believe in the way they play,
and you've been very, very defensive when your co host
or somebody on let's say talkSPORT or somebody you'd hear,
(08:44):
or somebody on Reddit or on social media basically go
kind of opposite of how you feel the team should progress.
You know, they went out and you know they got
they got slanky, and you know they're looking at me.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
He wasn't great today. He should have had a goal
or two today. But I still think he should move.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
He should have and we'll see. The jury is still
out on him. And he's only had you know, only
fifteen or so games to twenty matches or so. To
settle into the club, you need a good half a
season at least to kind of settle in. But just
at the end of the match the fans attacked Dange
(09:26):
Pedro Boro went at it with one fan. I saw
the footage. I'm sure you did too. It's not pleasant.
I mean I went through this with Arsenal when they
were going from arsen Wenger to Arteta in the middle,
when they had Uniamri who's now doing a very solid
job at Villa, but he just wasn't a good fit
at Arsenal and it was very, very toxic. I mean
(09:46):
even at the.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
End of there a stretch with Arteta where he lost
like eight games in a row or something.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
Well, at the beginning of his tenure, I believe he
lost the They only picked up either one point or
no points in their first three matches years ago. They
lost at Brentford three nil to open the season. I
believe they lost to City at home one nil, and
then maybe drew somewhere. Either way. The first three matches,
people were calling for his head. And you see how
(10:15):
he's turned things around, and the player procurement has certainly
helped things there. The decisions that he made basically my
way or the highway. Obama Yang out of here, Ozo
out of here, La Gazette out of here, and he
brings in Odegar and he brings in Declan Rice. Well,
I think ket was well out of here. But he
(10:35):
was born. He was in a different category because he
was an academy product. He wasn't He wasn't a higher
gun like Ozo or Obama Yang or Lacazette. Those guys
are higher guns. You know. You bring them in for
big salaries and you know, and they do the job.
Like Todhom I've had them in the past. Every club
has them or or or.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Don't tell that to the anjout crowd. They've never ever
went out for a player who's established, not once.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Well, you know, the fans at the end of the match.
I'm gonna take that group with a grain of salt
because they sat there through, if not the second worst match,
the worst match of the season that they've played other
than the Palace. It's it's in the top, it's on
(11:21):
the metal stand. Let's put it that way. That they
did not listen. I understand you agree say that in
the best case scenario that it would have been won
one today and I agree with that that they could
have They could have Nick Nick won there could have yeah,
but right exactly and should have had four. I mean,
I mean, to be fair, there was that one square
ball that the guy put over the net, h that
(11:43):
he should have put right. I mean, no goalie would
have ever stopped it. I mean it went over the
net when flying ten rows up. But still anything on net,
there is a goal and it's too nil and you're
and you're and the match is over. But about that
reaction at the end, I'm not gonna hold it against
those fans, like I just said, because they were there,
they sat through as we discussed one of the worst
(12:04):
games that they played this year. But you sitting there
on your couch, I mean, do you have any different feelings?
I mean, did you? Did you? Are you going through
the five stages of grief? Is there just anger at
this point? Like like Brett, like you you're you are
the pulse of the fan here. I mean you you
because you try and be as positive and when you break,
(12:26):
then I know that the damn has broken. So like
because you try and stay as positive about this manager,
because you really want to believe in these players and
this manager. But was today your breaking point?
Speaker 2 (12:37):
In what sense that I think you should be gone.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
No, No, just that you're starting to have doubts starting
to creep into your head. Let's put it that way.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
I have doubts creeping air in my head that he'll
be given the opportunity to see this out. Do I
have doubts that he could see this out and then
this could you know, still lead to the end of
the Rainbow project. I have zero doubts about that, I think.
I think if we stayed to course, I fully expect
(13:08):
that Ange will still win a trophy before he leaves
Burst if they stayed the course. What I have doubts
about is him being given the opportunity to do so,
and which which sucks. And here's what I'll say about
the reaction to which as you as we know, there
are three games that are impossible to get away tickets
to Chelsea, Arsenal and borne With. And the reason for
(13:32):
borne With, as we all know, as we heard from
from Robbie Lyle, it's just small the stadium, it's it's tiny,
and only the diehards of the die hards are getting
into that away end. The people who have been there
from the beginning, right and just naturally because they've they've
(13:55):
had to deal with this for for so long. Unfortunately,
they're probably gonna be the first ones to crack. They're
gonna be singing ninety minutes, but they're gonna be the
first ones to crack as well because they've had to
be subjected to this, as Robbie Lyle said, prank for
decades now. So I'm not ripping them because they're entitled
(14:16):
to feel how they feel, but I do think there
is a little bit of context there to be like,
this is the smallest away ends in the prem only
the diehard of the diehard are going to be there,
And yeah, they're in where we were tenth in the table,
and I get the you know, and if me, if
I really am searching as well, we're only you know,
(14:37):
three points out of top four or top five or whatever.
I mean, it's still true. But I just I think
the vocal minority is as loud as it's ever been
right now. And I honestly, and I'm going back and
forth people on Reddit right now, and there is some
I'm seeing some of you know, the just have patients
(14:58):
and my right, my biggest thing is and I got
some votes from my thing. But if we change manager
now and we sack them just because the results are
on going our way. You know, the Premier League form
has been dreadful. Europa League form has been good, you know,
Cup form has been good, but the Premier League has
(15:19):
been terrible. If we just sack him, we're just admitting
that we want to stay the same, all right, We
just we only just want to seek out that top
four and keep moving around and being inconsistent and being
mercurial because we're just looking for that change. We're looking
(15:40):
for a mystical manager who never loses games, who never
has mistakes. I'm here to tell you it doesn't exist.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
You know.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
It's it's like the perfect girlfriend that you're looking for.
She doesn't exist. Or she died last week and she
got hit by a car. You know, it's just it's
it's it's non existent. It's mythical. It's a unicorn. It
doesn't happen. So the only way that we can break
the stupid cycle of Spurs Bowl almost sore a second
(16:09):
time for the podcast is if we stick to a project.
The one time the Spurs, I know, the one time
Spurs had consistent success in our lifetimes has been under patch.
Now he had and he had five years, but they
I don't think that's a coincidence.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
But they brought in serial winners before, like Marinhos won
everywhere he went, didn't win anything there. Kante's won everywhere
he went, didn't win anything there. I mean what I mean,
what do you what do you attest that to?
Speaker 2 (16:40):
There's no project, there's no vision there. There's there's no
idea of we're going to start building a squad around
a manager and how he wants to play. What they
brought in with Kante Mourinho is we've got a pile
of bleep. You make something out of it. Please. We've
got Harry Kane, We've got Sonny and we've got some
dead would too Just make chicken salad out of chicken bleep?
(17:03):
That's what it is. With and or with Potch. It
was a project, it was a It was a foundational building.
And I think if you just tear down the house
because one brick and the foundation is off every two,
you're never gonna have a house. You're just gonna have
a bunch of bricks lying around. So I think sack
and age would be a huge mistake. But I'm very
(17:25):
I'll say this, if they sack and I would be
incredibly disenfranchised from this club for a long time.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
Well, I don't see that happening anytime soon. I mean,
if you want to look at the positive side of things,
even after today's result, they're still alive in four competitions.
They're in the quarterfinals of the Caravelle Cup against a
United side that we're going to talk about in just
a couple of minutes here. That that went down to
Arsenal after putting up a fight in the first half.
(17:53):
So they have a very very good chance of getting
to a Cup semi final, which is something that you
is if I'm sure you know the history that it's
it's very rare that they that they make cup runs
like this, and when they do, obviously they don't finish
the job. So uh, through all this muck and meyer
and these bad performances, you know, I really do wonder
(18:17):
how it would feel come May if you finished eighth
or ninth and the league results just kept you know,
piling up, but you know, you want to Europa League
or you want a Carabeu Cup. I mean, it would
it would feel, it would feel it would at least
be kind of dessert to a burn dinner. I guess
(18:38):
I don't I don't know, like I don't like I've
had that happen with Arsenal where they've won FA Cups,
but they've also finished in the top four. I have
not had a year where they finished outside the top
four but also won an f A Cup. If if,
unless my memory h does not serve me correct, maybe
(19:00):
one of the maybe one of those years with Obama
Yang they won the FA Cup but didn't get into
Champions Like be that as it may. You know, obviously
they went two decades, uh, you know, making the Champions
League every year and winning a couple of cups here
and there, but back to Tottenham before we get to Arsenal, Like,
how would you feel like if they if they did
go on a run and won a cup or won
(19:23):
the Europa League, but also came nowhere close to being
top four.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
Well that's the age old question, right is would you
rather have a trophy? Would you rather have top four?
You know that's been tossed around Spurs, you know for
years now, and I've been consistent on this one time,
just just the once, I would take the trophy for
this year, just the one one. Give me just something anything,
(19:50):
FA Cup, League Cup, and then let's let's say this
did happen. Let's say let's say we win the FA
Cup and we finished ninth this year, let's just say
next season, I would flip and be like, we got her,
we had our fun, we had our cup. I want
top four. That's my biggest priority instead of winning a cup.
I think in most cases that's the way it should be.
(20:11):
But I would just like the one place to just
cleanse their palate a little bit.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
Uh, that's fair. And again and if it's Europa, we
get in the Champions League, so that's that's something else
to be considered. That's that's also true.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
And there's some good teams in Europa League, as we
found out with Roma.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
So yeah, a few years before you actually started following
the Premier League, Arsenal and Chelsea played in the Europa
League Final, if you can believe it, in bah Koop
in the middle of a cool yeah bach correct, Yes, not,
that's an inside joke, folks, Yeah, podcast for two people.
(20:51):
But what wasn't a joke was the way Chelsea just
completely battered Arsenal in that game. I think it was
four nil and Arsenal never lifted. Uh toe Chelsea are
ready in Champions League and Arsenal needed it to get
into Champions League and they put up a complete no show.
So I know how it is to put up no shows,
(21:12):
especially away from home, which is what Tottenham did today.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
I mean born with a good side, especially a teams.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
They've beat City at home, they drew Liverpool and uh
they beat Arsenal and now they've beaten Tottenham, so they
certainly have some home form that that they can go on.
And they're in the top half of the table. You
know another club it's in the top half of the table.
They are, and that's a fresh off of a two
nil win over Manchester United. The first half, you know,
(21:45):
there wasn't a ton of stuff to break down in
this game other than they flipped the switch at halftime.
I mean the first half. United held the ball, They
held the ball by the midway line. They didn't really
advance much. They didn't they did not register a shot
on but they kept possession. Good for them. Arsol didn't
press a lot. They kind of let them have the ball.
They try to play on the counter didn't work. Second
(22:07):
half it was press, press, press, a lot of possession
and then obviously they broke through with with the with
the set pieces, so you know, we can and we
can get to that and that's fine. And that is
a criticism that's come from the Peanut gallery as to,
you know, how our ts score their goals. But if
you look at some of the matches before that, especially
(22:28):
against the Portuguese side midweek Lisbon in the Champions League,
if you look at the west Ham match, they scored
goals from open play. I mean, this is a team
that you know, plays really really good football and it's
because of a few players that really drive the team
and are the engine. But there's one in particular that
(22:52):
had been missing, and since he's come back, I mean,
they're a different side. I mean, and you you know,
and he's your if you can call him that, you're
your favorite player. I shouldn't say a favorite player, your
favorite player to watch on Arsenal.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
Yeah, I don't know. I don't know how to what
would be the correct terminology for that. I have a
lot of respect for.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
Respect, right, No, just it's like it's just a tip
your cap player, it's just somebody you enjoy watching. I
mean I enjoy watching some players on other squads that
I don't particularly like. I mean, I like watching Van Deven,
I like watching.
Speaker 2 (23:24):
Jefferson, right, yeah, right, yeah, exactly. Yeah, So I don't
like watching Cale Williams. So there's that.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
Well that's time. The pig nails aren't for everybody. You know,
Arsenal get the job done, and it was something I expect.
And now at halftime I was sitting there kind of
bewildered and I was not happy. They didn't put in
a good performance. They didn't have a ton of chances.
And then obviously something they they we he's at halftime
(23:53):
because they dominated the second half, and now it could
have been I know, we can talk about could have
shown us. Ryan made a great save I don't know
if he's so full stretch with his fingertips that kept
it at one nil, and then they ran he Is
And you know, I had been wrong on that because
I wanted Ramsdale, but that was more of a sentimental
thing because he's such a good guy and I've just he.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
Doesn't speak Spanish, so I guess I don't I guess
I don't know if he speaks. Does Ramsdell speak Spanish?
I guess you can't assume how the heck?
Speaker 3 (24:25):
How the heck? When I know that that's a question
I usually I usually have the answers to many questions
that one.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
It's more of a toical question. I don't know.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
I can't, I cannot answer. But it was fitting though
that the only match that I've ever been to at
the Emirates, he was there, and he was there saying goodbye,
saying hello and goodbye to his fans. And I was
in that end when he came over and gave his
shirt at the end of the match, even though they
lost three one, he came over and signed autograph, so
that was really nice of him. He seems just like
a good a good person and a good keeper, but
(24:57):
you know he was a great keeper, is Rayah And
that's he's a World Cup winner. He's a euro winner
and he's I shouldn't say a World Cup, he's a
Euro winner and he's he's really really added a lot,
especially with distribution from the back. There have been some
really good balls out that he's that he's contributed to
(25:19):
a couple of chances that I can think of, especially
in the game against west Ham where they really dominated
to go off five mail like us before nil in
that game, so Arsenal get the job done to nil.
Kind of a whole home win. I mean, Manchester United,
they had some decent results, but now they're still starting
to kind of grasp the system that Ama rim Is
(25:42):
is putting in there. He made some interesting changes. He
took Rashford out of the starting lineup and didn't bring
him on till later, which I thought was interesting because
Rashford has a history of scoring against them. Anthony, I didn't.
I didn't really notice he's and you really don't notice
him when he's out there there. But again, I'm very
happy with with with with this match because it's gonna
(26:05):
be no picnic this week against a hot Fulham side
that got a result against your side and also just
beat a Brighton side three one today.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
And that's a huge result.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
And they have a couple of former Arsenal players in
the team, including M. L. Smith Row that would love
nothing more than to have a good performance against an
inform Arsenal side. So Arsenal sit, like we discussed in
the top four after that two nil win, Brett.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
I'm just looking over at the stats, which here I
like to do the XG bit. I know not everyone
subscribed to that. But here's the good news and the
bad news for the Gunners and the x G. The
good news is against United. Do you see United's expectacles
zero point two two?
Speaker 3 (26:53):
Yeah, yeah, awful open.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
Play XG for United zero point zero three. They generated
nothing zilch.
Speaker 3 (27:03):
Yeah, they didn't do anything. They were passing the ball around.
It looked like there's a there's an old skit on
an old Simpsons episode where all the soccer stars come
to town and they yeah, exactly, they and they play
in front of all the Springfieldians, I think that's what
you call them. And it's Homer and it's Bars and
it's it's Barney, and it's all his friends or whatever,
and they're all at the game and they're basically just
(27:25):
standing around the center circle passing the ball back to
one another and they don't move, and somebody says, come on,
do something. Well, that's kind of what United were doing.
They were just kind of it was they were hitting
the X button on on PlayStation back and forth. They
were just completing short passes.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
It was that's the A button for U Xbox Yes.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
Correct, yes, thank you, thank you for clearing that up.
But again, it was it was a poor performance by
United and Arsenal get the three points to stay right
in line with Chelsea Football Club, who we can talk
about next. And that's our next opponent. But before we
get to.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
That, yeah, real quick. Also Xbox the superior console. But
that was the good news for Arsenal and the XG.
The bad news is your XG as a game was
two point one six, which fair. He scored two goals.
You're XG and open play zero point five six. That's
not good. The fans learned right.
Speaker 3 (28:25):
And they did generate a lot through there because United
really kept crowding the box. They didn't they didn't have
a lot of good chances. Ohnana, I will say this
had a really good game. I thought he was not
responsible for the set piece goals. I thought he commanded
the box well, especially since Arsenal had oh, I don't know,
fifteen corners in the entire match, you know me, United
(28:47):
had as many as you and I. So that was
like a dam that was ready to break. And when
you're as proficient in set pieces as Arsenal is and
and people like to call an old school but there's
a lot of pushing going on in the box. But
I mean you saw today. I mean, a perfectly executed
(29:08):
set piece is the kryptonite for teams. Uh, you know
who can defend well, you know in open play and
when you get in in a scenario like that, you know,
anything goes. And Arsenal Arsenal have two guys Soccer and
Rice from the right and left who take amazing corners
(29:31):
and you know, nine times out of ten it's going
to be in the spot where you know it needs
to be. And and and let me just say this
in in closing on the on the corner stuff, I mean,
this isn't something that they just work on that week,
like they have a set piece coach. He came from
Manchester sitting Nicola Jovert, So this is something that they
(29:55):
work on and I believe, and again you're a enormous
fan of both of these sports. But I'm going to
compare it to hockey, where it's like, if you have
five guys on the ice.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
Can we talk about the wild? They're doing great. I'd
rather talk about the wild right now in the.
Speaker 3 (30:14):
Pre we don't we don't even need the electrometer copyright
common for the for a while, you know, they are.
Speaker 2 (30:21):
The priest offs in the conversation for the heart. Can
we talk about that instead of the Spurs performance today?
Speaker 3 (30:26):
They're rolling, No, they're they're rolling right along. Continue here, No,
just I lost my trainers off there. I find I distracted.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
You were comparing the corners to hockey.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
Oh, well that again, So it compares to a power play.
It's like if a team has a really good power play, okay,
and it's like, well a five on five. Now, I
will say.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
That I don't hate where you're going here.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
I will say this though, when it comes to the playoffs,
it's different in hockey because the power plays don't come
as much the set pieces age. It's just based on
your play. So yeah, while while you want to criticize
the set pieces and and and and people want to say, oh,
that's where they get the goals from. What sets up
(31:18):
the set pieces? Brett good open play right, creating corners,
creating fouls from the other team in advantageous places, you know,
being being good on the ball and also you know,
getting the other team's defense out of place so that
they do, you know, have to commit these fouls and
(31:41):
force you to you know, be in in in these
positions where you can convert uh. And it's like in
hockey where if you're doing the right things and you're
in the right places and you're moving your feet and
and you know, and you're you know, and you get
and you get hooked or you get tripped, it's because
you're in the right place and the defense is a
(32:02):
step behind. And that's kind of what I feel on
the pitch here. It's like okay, and then you know,
the wild or whoever will go on the power play
on the score goal, and it's like, okay, great, you
know you didn't score. You know, you didn't score even strength,
but you know you scored two power play goals tonight
and you won four to two, but it was really
only two two at even strengths. I mean, you can't
(32:23):
really criticize that because the bottom line is it's all
part of the game. I hate when people in baseball
say that a team is all power pitching and power hitting.
What's the object of the game To hit the ball
out of the to hit the score runs. To hit
the ball out of the ballpark. So I don't care
how many times you strike out. If you strikeouts as
(32:45):
good as a groundown. And I know all the analytics
people and everything else.
Speaker 2 (32:48):
That's the first thing you said that I disagree with.
But we don't have to go into baseball. But I
get your point.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
But the major point again, just it's to the major point.
Home Runs are a big part of baseball. Strikeouts are
a part of baseball. Set pieces are just a part
of football, just like the power players are part of hockey.
It comes down to can you execute with the players
and within the constraints of the game and what you're given,
(33:15):
and if you're going to create chances and this is
the best way you think and it's sustainable, which clearly
it is. I mean, they've scored the most set piece goal.
This isn't something that they've done for like a month
and then all of a sudden it's going to go away,
like they know what they're doing. You hear the crowd
they build up. It's it's quite amazing. And when I
say this, and I know you don't remember because you
(33:36):
weren't watching back eight ten years ago, they were the
worst set piece team in the league. I mean, it
was cringe worthy when I had to watch. And not
to name all the defenders, but there were guys like
Chuck Round Mustafi and some other different David Luiz, some
other guys that were back there. They just were that
were international players that just had no idea how to
(33:59):
defend these pieces that we'd give up pulls all the time.
So now the shoes on the other foot, and now
they're actually taking advantage of it and they've done a
one eighty. And I give the coaching staff and the
players full credit for really kind of leaning into it
and not being ashamed of any comments or corner refc
(34:20):
or banter or anything like that, because you know what,
they're pulling out results and a couple of weeks ago,
a lot of people thought they were out of the
title race, and I think they're right back in.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
Well, I don't well that to me. We'll see about
the title race, but you're definitely pulling out results and
there's no shame in the corners. Let's let's talk Chelsea
here speaking of title race, because just pulling up there,
are we good on Arsenal? Do we feel like we?
Speaker 3 (34:43):
Yeah? No? And they're going to take on Fulham this week,
which again is a tricky match. I I can see
them dropping points here. I mean Fulham's an informed style.
Speaker 2 (34:53):
You know, they're a fun and frisky team and I.
Speaker 3 (34:55):
Wouldn't I would not be surprised if they did. But
if they get a result this week, and that is
probably their toughest match for the rest of the calendar year,
they have a couple of games against Crystal Palace. They
have a game against Everton in there, who won four
nil there, but they beat a wolfside that just terrible
and in relegation battle. So if Arsenal can pull out
(35:19):
this result this week, they may have a really good
run here through the holidays and into Boxing Day. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (35:27):
Let's let's talk Chelsea though, to just move things along here,
because they are in absolute killer form. They're doing the
things that I wish Spurs would do, which is that
is go to lower sides and just kill them. Five
to one winners at Southampton, which by the way, I
(35:48):
was telling friend of the show Jesse, who's the Chelsea
friend in our group chat, that was a place, you know,
a couple of years ago where I think they lost
like three nil Southampton on the road, like in the
depths of the downswing of Chelsea, I mean, And it
just shows the transformation and I see here their next
(36:11):
match obviously is Spurs and it has like a little
on this website I use foot mom has a little
like here's a snapshot of the stats. So goals per
match Spurs two, Chelsea two point two goals conceded per match.
Both are tied at one point zero seven goals conceded
per match. Yet the top one the top stat as
(36:32):
table position Chelsea two, Spurs ten. So I think that
about sums up the run that Spurs are having, finding
a way to grasping defeat from the jaws of victory
lots of times. But we've talked enough about Spurs. This
Chelsea side man, and they're they're for real. They don't
(36:52):
they don't play down a level of their competition anymore.
The only one that they may have was that United game.
But other than and I mean like Leicester or two,
I thought they were still decent in that game. They
had a ton of the ball in that game. So yeah,
I'm nervous, and I'm nervous. What's going to happen if
Slash win Spurs lose that game. I'm well, very concerned.
Speaker 3 (37:15):
Well, this is clearly one of your biggest rivals. We
know the history of the fixture. We know that a
few years ago there was managers with a dust up
on the sideline. You know. We know last year one
of the matches wound up in chaos as well. So
I just the way that Chelsea's going and the way
(37:38):
that Spurs are playing right now. Other than holding on
to the fact that the box of chocolates theory where
you can see them pop up and do what they
did to City, I mean, I wouldn't be holding out
too much hope that they're going to get any type
of result this week against an inform Chelsea side that
is scoring goals. And not only that, but now they're
(38:02):
starting to keep keep clean sheets and that's something that
they were not doing even when they were winning games
earlier this year. They were allowing goals. But now they're
you know, starting to keep some some clean sheets, and uh,
you know, it's a testament to the manager. It's a
testament to some of these players that have been for
(38:23):
the Ringers since they've been there. They don't know, you know,
if they're going to play if they don't, you know,
that's that's what's so good about not to go back
to Arsenal. But I mean, other than a few of
the changes that he made going into this match, where
he started some some different guys due to injury, like
Califiori was out as well as Gabriel was out, so
(38:45):
he started Curiore and he started Martinelli upfront. Z Chenko played,
so there was there were some different players, but the
same eleven for the most part when oder Gard is healthy,
the same back for and I know Ben Ben White hurt,
but they have the same lineup. And it helps when
(39:06):
you know that you you have a role and you're
you know that you're gonna play every week. And I
think that's what Chelsea is kind of settling into, where yeah,
they they do have a ton of depth and and
and Nico Jackson didn't even play in this last match,
but he knows that he's he's the first choice striker
for them, but he knows that he's he's been doing
the job and and and they're and they're really moving
(39:28):
in the right direction. I thought that they were a
year ahead of schedule last year, and it turns out
they're right on time this year. I was wrong last year,
although they showed signs late in the year, and now
this year they're certainly pushing for that top four. I
wouldn't say they're the title contender. Yet all the social
media and all the all the coverage, is Chelsea a
(39:50):
title contender? Are they in the mix for for the title? Well?
I don't think it's it's there yet.
Speaker 2 (39:57):
Uh the form would say otherwise.
Speaker 5 (40:00):
But I need to see it through the through the
winter months and and and come out of the.
Speaker 3 (40:10):
Next international break, perhaps in March, where there's like, you know,
eight eight games to go and there within and then
within a few points now top four absolutely, I mean
they should their fans and their and their ownership and
their players should absolutely think that that that is a
realistic goal. So or so is a cup run. So
(40:30):
is a run in? Uh in in your in the
conference league. So Chelsea have the same things going for them.
It's time to do The difference is one team is
playing really well and the others not.
Speaker 2 (40:43):
I'll say this, going back to the box Chocolate's bit,
would it not be the most spursy thing to just
show up and just win like three?
Speaker 3 (40:50):
No, that's why they keep pumping you in because it's
I told you, it's like blackjack. You're addicted. If you
go to the you don't know what two cards are
coming out.
Speaker 6 (40:59):
We consider the black table and you can get five
blackjacks in a row, pick up your money, and we
can go home for the night. Or you could sit
there and get five six teams in a row against
face cards and draw you know, and draw you know
ten ten.
Speaker 2 (41:13):
And the casino doesn't allow surrenders either.
Speaker 3 (41:15):
So exactly the worst. So again, this is what this
is what you know. I have a love hate relationship
with with black check. I love to play and hate
to loose.
Speaker 2 (41:25):
Yeah, exactly, yeah. I think best case scenario for that
game is Romero and Van Deven both managed to get healthy,
and I know they've both been training. I know they're close,
but especially with Ben Davis going down, I mean we're
gonna have to start Archie Gray at center back.
Speaker 3 (41:43):
Yeah, I know which is which is the real? I
mean he moved back there today. I saw he, you know,
when they made some subs, he had to move his position.
I thought he had some good hold up play early.
But again, he's a kid. He's a kid. You're trying
to win games in the Premier League. You can't trust
all these ran apply Listen. I am not blaming and
for his selections today because he clearly was.
Speaker 2 (42:06):
He was rotating today dude, Yeah, he was. He was
rotating for Chelsea one hundred percent. Usually he's he's been
taking out sign it like the sixtieth minute. Today he
brings him on at like the seventieth Poro sitting as well,
but he.
Speaker 3 (42:21):
Took Madison off at like the eightieth minute. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (42:24):
Well, I actually thought he was decent in the midfield,
and the final thirty was terrible, but terrible in the
final time, I.
Speaker 3 (42:31):
Would agree there was one glorious chance that they had
that I'm not sure how at the phone out of
the run. Yeah, that I don't know how you can
finish that. That one. You probably jumped up on your
couch and said, oh my god. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (42:41):
I thought the sunny one was a goal to until
I saw the very first replay and I was like, oh, yeah,
that's not mad.
Speaker 3 (42:47):
No, no, no, no, and he goal.
Speaker 2 (42:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (42:51):
I don't know if you heard on the coverage, but
he pointed himself, he goes, who'll be you actually heard?
Speaker 2 (42:55):
Fully convinced you.
Speaker 3 (42:56):
Actually heard him on the coverage.
Speaker 2 (42:58):
So that's another reason I was excited, because he was
so sure he was on side. So I'm like, surely
it's it's on, and he's like Miles just.
Speaker 3 (43:06):
Like it's just just like when your favorite baseball player,
like a coon here a Riley or Chipper Jones goes it,
goes in and says he got hit by a pitch,
but he never got hit Oh my elbow, no, no, no,
or somebody yeah, oh yeah, you can go to hockey.
Oh I got high stick. No you didn't.
Speaker 2 (43:23):
Yeah you bit you bit your lip for a double minor.
Speaker 3 (43:26):
But I hope this But and we can and we
can talk about the the other clubs in the Big
six year briefly before before we wrap up, and just
kind of preview the upcoming week as we uh as
we approach an hour here on the London Club Council,
Bright Blake more representing Tottenham, despondent, and Robbie Rosenes here
representing Arsenal.
Speaker 2 (43:48):
And I think deep in the mouth I think it was.
Speaker 3 (43:52):
I think I think so yeah, I think I think
deep in the mouth. I believe that was. That That's
that should be. Maybe who knows, maybe it'll be the
title of the of the episod. But Liverpool they said
at the top of the table, and these are this
is the team that you're chasing. This is the team
that I'm chasing. This is the team that Chelsea's chasing,
and we'd be remiss if we did mention that three
(44:12):
to three draw against Newcastle over the weekend. I thought
it was a fascinating watch. I thought it was the
best match of the weekend and really Liverpool should have
won the game. I mean, if you saw that last goal,
the keeper has to play that ball. I mean, somebody
sneaking in the back to Fabian shar seeking to sneaking
in the back door. There cannot happen, especially in the
(44:33):
ninety something minute. So Liverpool dropped points and gives hope
to teams like Chelsea and Arsenal and even Manchester City
who got back to their winning ways three nil, I thought,
on Liverpool or Manchester City.
Speaker 2 (44:43):
Brett, I think Liverpool it's their title to lose. I mean,
I know it's December fifth, but I mean you're thirty
five points, you have one lost, two draws so far
in fourteen matches. I mean that's just unreal. So I
think it's there to lose. I don't know how City
go from here. I do think they're starting to age
out a little bit, but who knows, Maybe we'll see
(45:05):
prime City and they'll surge back. I mean, there are
two points out from you and Chelsea tied at twenty
eight points. So but I just think it's everyone's beating
up on each other in the two through five spot.
I just think Liverpool until they really start, like, they
need to lose a couple of games for me to
be like, Okay, maybe this title race is a thing.
(45:27):
And I'm not saying that. I get that number two
is Chelsea, Number three is Arsenal, and I get that
I can just rip them. But I just think Liverpool
are so good right now that it's theirs to lose
in my opinion.
Speaker 3 (45:38):
Well, they have a couple of tricky matches coming up.
I mean, the the going to Goodison Park is never
easy because it's a rival. It's just like Cottenham playing Arsenal.
Doesn't matter how good the clubs are, it's always for.
Speaker 2 (45:51):
About the record books.
Speaker 3 (45:52):
Yeah, exactly. Yeah, And they welcome fall in love that one,
they welcome full them in. Who's who's an informed side?
But then they they have to go to your side
before the end of the year, and you know that
won't be that won't be easy. Depending on how you're
how healthy your I would assume by the mid to
(46:14):
late December that you'd have at least some of these
players back and be able to give Liverpool some sort
of fight, especially since the game is home. I know
the matches at home haven't been to your liking, and
they've and they've dropped quite a few there, the ipswitch
match notwithstanding. But you know, Tom, Tom Damer in the
mud right now, and we'll see if they and will
see if they come out of it. I like the
(46:38):
fact that you're standing behind the manager and you're not
throwing them out with the bathwater, because you're right, And
just to kind of sum it up here as we
as we as we kind of close another episode, your
overriding view about staying the course really uh is admirable
and also something that I took to as well, because
(47:00):
I never wavered. We weren't doing this pod, but I
never wavered on Ourteta like I never once set our
Teta out, and even when he struggled, and even when
we were in our group chat and when I met
you a few years ago and and we had some
struggles and they blew the Champions League and Tottenham got
in right as I met you back in twenty two
(47:21):
and then yeah, and then obviously, you know last year
they led the league until they didn't. But I admire
that you're trying to stick with him now. It could
go one of two ways, clearly, and that's not you know,
and that's not break breaking any news here. But if
you firmly believe in him, then maybe the players do too.
And you know, I just kind of block out the
(47:43):
noise and we'll see where it goes from here as
a big match with Chelsea awaits on the weekend.
Speaker 2 (47:49):
The definition of insanity is to try the same thing
and expect different results. And I understand that could be
turned into firing and because we're getting different results and
the same result over and over. But I would say
my response, that would be trying the same thing over
and over again, would be changing managers because that's what
we've been doing for the last decade plus and it
(48:11):
hasn't worked. And if they think that, to me, that
would be the definition of insanity is to sack and
and do the same exact thing over and over again
and expect different results. It would just lock us in
to this mediocre mercurial squad.
Speaker 3 (48:26):
Well that's my thoughts, and I responded, now that's fun.
Despondent and your curial coming to a theater yes near you.
That's Brett Blake more representing Tottenham. He's not desponding, he's
actually smiling. We're on video and he's actually smile because
for the first time in this in this bit, well,
he's about to watch as green Bay Packers play.
Speaker 2 (48:45):
There again, we're almost done talking about Spurs and I
get to watch a winning team in the green Bay Packers.
Let's call the biggest game of the year.
Speaker 3 (48:54):
Let's go yes, so Lions Packers coming up. We're taping
this on Thursday afternoon for those of you who are listening.
We'll be back early next week. After this round of fixtures,
Arsenal and Tottenam both playing the same day. Arsenal will
take on Fulham Sunday morning and then Chelsea and Tottenham,
with the main stage on Sunday afternoon for Brett Blake,
(49:14):
Moore and Robbie Rosenhales. This has been a jam packed
edition of the London Club Council
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!