Manchester Derby Weekend: The Two Footed Podcast

0:00This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network. What's good boys and girls? Two for the podcast. Today is Friday. It's the 11th of September. Moment for all those in America remembering those who were lost 25 years ago in the attack on the World Trade Center. We had, you wait for Champions League action last night. We had six matches. Let's get through them. Slavia Prague 2, loans 3. Now, loans would have really, really fortune to escape here. So Slavia go down to 10 men on 49 and then go ahead on 51 through Sturm. Then Abdullah Sema equalizes on 73. You kind of expect that loans will go on and win the game. It's plenty against 10 men and they are on top. But Sturm scores again on 88 and it takes Florian Taven in the 91st minute and Ruben Aguilar in the 93rd minute to give loans the win on the nice.

1:09Comal 4, Lipsig 1, Baturina, Duvicus and Dio putting Comal 3 nil up. Maximovic pulled one back to give some hope, I suppose, to Lipsig and then Maximo Peroni wrapped it up on 90. Very comfortable on the nice PSV 1, Shakda 1, Mendoza put Shakda up just before half time. So Gino Dess equalized just after half time. Fenerbahce 1, Roma 1, Brian Christante 6 months before half time for Roma, Archie Brown 3 minutes after half time for Fenerbahce. That Fenerbahce team is literally someone who stuck with a, you know, an FM 20, 21 maybe? Yeah, 2021 I'd say just a lot of lads passed her best.

2:13Some still some very good players. Terrible said a lads playing on right wing, but he is a good player. And by a Munich 5, that Bodo glimped nil, nil nil half time, but then Mousseala Kane, Alfonso Davies. Michael Elisei, then Bjortovt was sent off on 87 and Elisei made it 5, no, Bayern just battled the ball game long, so no surprises there. And then Manchester United for Sabin nil, we didn't get our goalbridge moment, we did get a very interesting moment where he was talking about having to put his, his dog down years ago. And then Bruno Fernandez scored and he just completely forgot what he was talking about. Kunia, then Sabin had a chance to make it 1-1, which wouldn't have given us the moment we wanted, but would have been a good moment nonetheless, but they didn't score. Bruno made it 2, Cesco made it 3, and then the gnome wrapped it up, 4-0 to Manchester United.

3:14Now we have one question from Discord this week. Someone called James has asked, do I still do the Q&A, I do every Thursday, as long as there's nothing else that comes up, so send your questions in. And then Isaac Gilding has asked, the Premier League has been poor in terms of overall quality for a few seasons in a row. I'd say 21-22 was the last decent year. What do you think needs to happen for the league to get back to an acceptable level? Does it need Brentford's Brighton's informants of the world to be worse? No, no, it does not. It needs the big clubs to act like big clubs. It needs Liverpool to make better decisions. It needs Manchester City to make better decisions. It needs Chelsea to be better run and make better decisions. It needs spurs to be better run and make better decisions. It needs Manchester United to have some sort of exorcism within the building and then be better run and make better decisions.

4:15It needs Newcastle and Ascivil to stop crying and stop spending outside their means and just build, just build. The only club of the big eight who you could say have consistently progressed is Arsenal. It has been slow progression and it's not that they've actually gotten a whole lot better over the years, just those around them have gotten worse. I suppose they've been consistent. Who's how best to frame it? Liverpool have been up and down. City have been up and down, although mostly down. Chelsea, mostly down, United have been crafts, spurs have been crap. Newcastle and Villa have been up and down, never really title contenders, but in the round that top four mix. It needs those clubs to better run and make better decisions. It needs to be more consistent. It needs them to target better players in the transfer market. It doesn't necessarily need the middle class to get worse. It doesn't need the bottom end teams to get worse.

5:19It doesn't. We want those teams to be strong. We want 38 really strong tough games for every team. That's how we'll get the best Premier League. But the Premier League will always and any league will always be defined in terms of its overall quality by what's at the top, not what's at the bottom. And it's the teams at the top that just haven't been good enough. City haven't been good for the last two years and I know they want a couple of cups last year. Liverpool were terrible last year. Spurs have been pretty terrible for a number of years. I know they want a Europa League a few years ago, but still Chelsea have been bad for many years now. United have been a dumpster fire for 13 years. Like a proper basket case. So it needs these clubs to be to be better. That's how we get the league better is that these clubs are better on to make better decisions and buy better players and employ better managers. You're not helped by the fact that there is a very short list of high talent managers in the game

6:20like that. Like, you know, in terms of those who are proven enough and ready enough to go to those bigger clubs. It's not helped by the fact that we definitely do have a short and great players. Like the level of greatness in the game has never been lower. The volume of great players has never been lower. I mean, truly great players. And that is a byproduct of the messy and Christiano era, you know, where those two dominate for so long. They're a they're a byproduct of the downward trajectory of football. And football and superstars have struggled because nobody's been able to really get big time opportunities and get pushed to the moon because of them. Not their fault, well, maybe Christiano's fault, but certainly not messy's fault. But yeah, for the Premier League to get better, better run, better decisions. That's that's where to be all the end all comes from. I'm going to go to break. I'll be back with one guy drinker. See

7:24you in a sec. Right, welcome back. So it is Friday. So that means guy drinker is here. How are you, sir? I'm good. I'm good. I'm actually enjoying football this season, which is luxury. The Liverpool fans up the last year. I wouldn't stick to that. There's a long season to go. Well, that's true. It can't be what last season was the worst in my life kind of. Yeah, we had Ray Hodson. So last year was particularly a little bit too far. So yeah, that's fair. Right. What have we got lined up for ourselves then this weekend? Yeah, a bit of a weird one, no early kickoff, no Friday. So we're out of Friday kickoff for the foreseeable, I imagine. But we'll start with the three o'clock kickoff. Villa against Forest to kick us off a there. Villa obviously had bad start of the season and forest. Probably say a disappointment start of the season. Obviously had some difficult games, tested Liverpool. But Villa, I mean, it does feel like

8:25I know they got a win midweek, but it does feel like they need something under their belt quite quickly. It does like an awful lot of new players in the door at Villa. A lot of experience gone out the door as well. But you know, they got the win in midweek and it will get them up and running. They have progressively gotten better in each match since the start of season. It wouldn't be hard considering how horrific they were on the opening day. I mean, an absolute embarrassment for them down at Brighton. They were lucky it wasn't seven rave. But they gave Arsenal some problems, lost one nil, but made it very, very difficult for the champions. And then last time out, they fell victim to that whole defence, but probably still should have won the game like had the chances. Forests, they've been okay, just about okay. First game of the season, they lost at home to leads, but they should have won that game. Second game, like you said, they came

9:28to hand, and feel Liverpool a big scare, possibly could have won it. And then last time out, it had a draw with spurs. This won't be an easy game for either side. And when we look at the injury situations, you have, oh, Nana's probably going to miss most of the season. Guretska is going to be out for a while. This is an interesting quote. Unfortunately, my body has reacted to the increased workload after my time away from the pitch. It's frustrating, but I need this short break now to come back at full strength. I'll use the coming days, including the international break to recover fully. Like, what were you doing all summer? Were you sitting at home, having a scratch? You should have been ready to go. Joe Gomez is still suspended after his opening game, horror show. Maddie Cash is expected to miss out. Manzambi's not fully back yet, and Majo is still out. So, yeah, some issues for Villa. For Forest. Savona is out. He's been out for a while.

10:32And Sangari's back. So that's big. So, Forest are strong coming in. Villa missing some key players. I'm going to go for a nodding in Forest 2-1 win. Yeah, I can certainly see that. I can certainly see that. Next up, we do have Bomberf against Brentford, dear, the Battle of the Bees. Again, probably similar with the teams we've just mentioned, maybe close at a forest. Another one you're pointing at, but it feels like Bomberf have left a bit on the table in the early parts of this, so you have the bin up in two of the three games, I think, and so on. So, they were ahead against City. Yes. And they conceded in the 84th and 92nd minute and lost. Then in their second game, I want to say they were ahead again. That was Everett at home and Tarkowski scored in stoppage time. And then last time they were two in and up against Newcastle.

11:34So, you know, and they were two won up in the 88th minute. So, I mean, that you could argue they've left six points on the table. Yeah. Actually, no, it's more. It would be seven points because they've got two draws and a defeat and it could easily have been three wins. So, I do, they've played really well up until a certain point in each came and then they've just kind of capitulated. That's that's a sign of a Marqueo Rose team unfortunately. They should have a lot more than two points. Brentford, obviously, had a fairly strong start, but again, I think they'll feel like possibly they could be better off as well. I mean, they obviously hammered Spurs on the opening day. Then they drew it leads, but they were they were one up in that and maybe will feel like they could have won it. Now, leads away are still a good point. Last time out, they drew with Sondland. It was a

12:37late penalty 82nd minute. Yeah, I think Dale feel like they've left two points on the table and should probably have seven right now. But I think Bournemouth will be more disappointed with how things have gone. Love both of these teams think they both had strong windows. Bournemouth strength in the window was keeping the players. Brentford added really, really well. Brentford will have no De Silva, no Malambo, no Nathan Collins, no Seth Fandenberg as well. So that's both starting center backs out. Matthias Jensen is a major doubt. Bournemouth, no Hulian Arrejo, no Crupi, no Amin Adley and no Milisavilich. I think those two center backs being out for Brentford is massive though. I'm going to go Bournemouth to win this game. I'll go Bournemouth to one. Yeah, definitely feels like something's going to break Bournemouth's way. But yeah, it would be a

13:40big result. I think it's something of the positive started Brentford team as you say. Another pre-a-clock kickoff then, Chelsea against Hull. Hull or opposite in the ways they play football. Chelsea don't do defending and Hull don't do attacking. Well, when you have all the McBernie, it's tough like. That's true. That's just another defender, isn't it? Let's be honest. I mean, Hull, Arrejo, both Chelsea at the minute, extra point in hand. I mean, look, I think we did the show a couple of weeks ago. I think we said there's nowhere Hull will be manipulated, but it would be funnier. And it was pretty comfortable in the end. Was it? I mean, 2-0 Flatter united. I did. Yeah. So, look, I think again, this would be a massive, massive shock, if Hull did it again, but if they keep doing it, it's going to be good. Bless it for sure. Put it that way. Yeah, this is the thing. Like, they've had such a good start. I genuinely blown away. They're the only team in the league that hasn't conceded a goal yet, which is just incredible,

14:44really. Now, they did, if I'm not mistaken, they did lose due the night to Sondland and the league by a goal to know. So, they'll want to bounce back. Chelsea are a flawed team. There's definitely major issues in that defense. The goalkeeper, I know they brought in Emu Martinez, who is better than Robert Sanchez, but I mean, he's had a couple of poor moments already. That Bavard's goal. I mean, you know, that's a simple save. They're very good going forward. Though Chelsea's like Parmer and Rogers look really good together. And Cole Parmer always looks good against the lesser teams. The big teams he can cope with. As we come into this one, Chelsea, no, Polestra,

15:49Kaisados at Doubt, Omega is out and Jordan Henderson is out. He says, now I'm looking at Kaisado. He said, he basically said he's not going to risk him this weekend. So, rule him out as well. For a whole, they have a lot of players either out or carrying knocks. Matazo, Gavi, Butler, and answer, Charlie Hughes, Marita, all out, bought Paddy McNair, Iro Boonham being back, I think is big. And Norton Cuffee is going to be good to go. So, that's a boost for them. I just can't see around a Chelsea win here. Like, they're at home. They'll need to bounce back after the Arsenal game. They scored six in the week against Leeds. I'll go Chelsea three one and hold sort of fall back to Earth a little bit.

16:55Yeah, yeah. As long as they look competitive, I don't think they'll be overly sad with that as well. Next up, then an interesting game. Two teams next to each other in the early table. Here's 13 against 14 in policy against dips, which do. I mean, that win for Crystal Palace last week when was absolutely huge. It almost, almost not must win because that'd be silly two games and the three games and it was season. But considering the start, then, and full and made, it did feel like this is what the battle of the new manager kind of relief game type crap, yeah, I'm wording really badly. No, you're I know exactly what you mean in your life. And then as it's which who had that really good start to the season against Sunderland, if her member correctly, two losses on the bounce since, but it's Liverpool and Man United. Anything from those games would have been a bonus. So it probably just feel like this is the first game in two that Ipswich actually have a good chance to do something in.

17:59Yeah, and like if we look at those games, the United game, they were leading and it took an error by an Ipswich player to get United back into the game and obviously there's the handball goal as well, which is a scandal. You know, they were quite competitive. The scoreline doesn't represent the game. And then against Liverpool, I mean, Liverpool go two up in nine minutes and it just, it took all the error of Ipswich, it took all the error out of the crowd. But they did end the game quite well. I thought they played pretty well in the second half. I don't think Liverpool had a good second half. So I think they can take small bits out of those games, but look, Gary O'Neill was brought in to keep them in the division. And Gary O'Neill is smart enough to know that it's not Liverpool in United that keep you in the division. It's Sondland, it's Crystal Palace, it's going to be Coventry and Hall and Leeds and Fulham and it's going to be those type of clubs there

19:00where he needs to be getting his points. Palace, I said, during the summer, I'm concerned about Palace because they lose the qual, then they lose Munoz. Now, they did replace them with Dessassi and with the Israeli kid who, who are both fine players, but they're not as good as what went out the door. They did make a couple of other decent additions, but are the additions that can help you this season that remains to be seen? You've got Ishmael Assar who doesn't want to be there. You've got Metetta who doesn't want to be there and is currently challenging his contracts. So, there's a lot of upheaval and a lot of question marks and a lack of ambition, I think. I don't like when clubs end the summer with a transfer profit unless they have to because of financial constraints. Palace don't have financial constraints. They won two trophies, you know, trophy in each of the last two seasons and should have been looking to kick on and, you know,

20:06move to being where Brentford are, Bournemouth are, Brighton are, top half team challenging for Europe. Instead, it feels like they've just sort of said, oh, well, you know, we had our success. That's it now. Like, Glasgow left because you weren't ambitious enough and you kind of proved his point. Heading into this one, Palace, no rehab, he's done for the season. What a, what a horrible bit of luck for Harry's. Yeah, Tornay CL, unfortunately, unless the sex is second Tornay CL. So, I mean, if he's, will he ever be the player we thought he could be when he first kind of came on to the scene a few years back. Matata is injured. We don't know what the injury is. They've been very hush hush. Is it an injury or is it down to the fact that he is currently challenging his contract? Ismail Asar is out. But in Katia should be good to go and check the

21:07Kurei's training, which I'm so happy for because in 2023, when we didn't get Moises, the Kurei was the alternative target for Palace priced him out of the mood. And then a couple months later, he tore his Achilles and then he worked so hard to get back from that and then he hurt his knee and he worked hard and kind of rushed back from that and he hurt his knee again. He had to have knee surgery and unfortunately for him, he's basically lost three years of his career. He's played it I think 20, 25 games in three years. It's such a shame because he was so, so good in that 22, 23 season. He was Crystal Palace's player of the year. I just want to see the kid back playing and happy and you know, free from injuries. I wonder with Palace if that's an issue because who's that like this? That was it from West Brom, the love this and he just never got fit. Is Ferguson? Yes. What was his first name? Now I think let's see Ferguson West from Nathan Ferguson.

22:16Nathan Ferguson. Nathan Ferguson. He was really, really good. He was like a rock solid right back who could also play center back and left back. Maybe he was a left back, he could play center back and right back. Either way, he broke through West Brom but he was a couple of years into his kind of pro contract when he really got run. He was going to go in the summer, so in the January, they decided not to sell him. He left as a free agent in the summer of 2020, signed for Palace, suffered a serious knee injury like almost straight away and he stayed there four years. I think he played once, he played once. He has now played in two years. So actually, to be fair, he has now played a game of football since the 21, 22 season.

23:18He hasn't had a contract for two years since leaving Crystal Palace. He had a trial at Portnott, played in some friendlies. At least he played in some friendlies, four friendlies, didn't get a contract and nobody signed him. This sick guy who was in England at a 20 international and was tipped to play at senior level. And yeah, it's just, you know, they get they get him that happens. They get to curate that happens. They get chatty reed. Heres is ACL shortly after joining. Finally comes back. Look decent. Heres is ACL again. That is that is all the bad luck you could ever need. Ipswich town this weekend, no tailor, no, oh, Phillogen is back and Matt to see what is back. So they're pretty much at full strength because tailor wouldn't play. I'm going to go for an Ipswich draw here. I think Ipswich would go in and get a point.

24:19But I wouldn't be surprised if Ipswich won. I would favor them to win, but I'm going to go for the draw. I'm going to go one one. I think this is a Gary O'Neill game. I think you'll get a point here. Yeah, wouldn't surprise me, especially with the people missing for for Palace. That attack does a bit. Does look a smidge light, but I suppose we haven't seen a lot of the story yet. Stranglass and children will be against goal, but he's been god awful for Palace of Yeah, be interesting. It'd be interesting. I think they're kind of hoping pain or breaks. I'll really having those are the biggest hope, isn't it? Anyway, last three o'clock kick off before we go to a break then Liverpool against Bullham Diff. Now, this might be just like eternal pessimist thinking, but it would be very Liverpool to give Fallam something in this game. Your music. Sorry, I'm muted. It would be very, very Liverpool to give Fallam something here.

25:25And if Burnt Leno who's been dreadful so far this season has anything about him, he'll put in the performance of his life because that's what keepers do at Anfield. Now, Fallam of last three not looked good. Liverpool have five points. They've looked good in patches, like they had probably 15 minutes spell against Newcastle where they look good. Maybe a 20 minutes spell against Forest where they look good. And the first half against dips which I thought was quite good. It was a bit of 40 minutes spell in the in the athletic game, maybe 45 minutes spell in the athletic game. He decided half time where they looked good. But Fallam haven't looked good at all. So that's what I'm penning my hopes on. Fallam of no Tom Kerney. Liverpool have no broadly, no acateeke, no leone, no kieza.

26:28They're hopeful that Barcola and Kirk-Ez will be good to go. They're hopeful that Gomez can make the bench and they're hopeful that Cody Gackbo can be involved. So it is, you know, it is a number of injuries, but those go to show. Like when all those players are back, Spawn won't look anywhere close to as bad as it does at the moment. It is just a lot of and a long term injuries with Bradley, acateeke and leone. I think I went three-one on scotadjeste, so I'll stick with that. I'll go three-one. Yeah, I think he did go with us. And with that, we'll go to a break. We'll be back with the televised games basically. So we'll be back in a second. Right, welcome back. So we have five down, five to go. And as Guy said before the break, now we're on to the stuff they're going to show you on television and make you think this is a good product. Where are we going first? Well, we've got a bad example to start with. We have taught them

27:29against Neverland, which could be potentially funny. I mean, Dave, talk to them. Let's be honest, an embarrassing start to the season. All things considered. I know it's a massive project, because that club has just been in mess for many, many years, but especially the last two, it's been embarrassingly in mess. Drawed through last week with Forest, kind of, luckily, it probably was correct the handball decision, but it might have been given a penalty in another situation. And Everton, where are Everton? Everton, doing better than I thought. There are five points to a win and two draws. Look, there is issues there. Everton, there always is, shouldn't have let Beto go without replacement in the door. But I think there is some stuff to be excited about that squad, Dave. I know you're a big fan of Dibbling. I doubt David Moises the right manager for him, but Tyrick George, seemingly now going to get a big opportunity this season. Scott, I'll lovely go last weekend. And look, Tina, but Tina and O'Berry

28:29still got it wrong. I'll call him Barry. I'll call him Barry, straight from EastEnders. Look, he's young. He's a project striker. And now he's got a massive opportunity to be a big, a big time successor, Everton, whereas last season, he was a bit of a meme, let's be honest, but he started the season off, okay? He has. And they've started the season off pretty well, like, you know, a win and two draws. That's based on the, the, the gloom among the fan base, you'd think they lost all three games, but a lot of that is just their failings and the transfer window. They got some good players in. It's just they ignored positions that they needed to address. And like you said, they left Barry go without a replacement. They sold their best player and got Jack Greenish back on another loan, which I know they're excited to have Greenish back. And he did quite well there last year, but he's not your player. Like, it's very hard to get too excited about

29:29a loan when you don't know that you're going to be able to keep that player like take, for example, we have Ronald Arrayo alone. We have an option to buy him. We know what that option price is. So we have control over the Ronald Arrayo situation. Everton don't have that with Jack Greenish. There's no option to buy. And they couldn't afford to take on Jack Greenish's wages. So city are paying or, I don't know whether city are paying or he's just not taking his full wage. But for him to go to Everton permanently, he would have to agree to a pretty significant wage drop, which he may not be willing to do. Just for context, Dave, his contracts up next year as well. So he's a doubt he'll want to take a wage drop and move on a free. So this is his last thing is you have to remember his age as well. This is his last chance to get that last big payday. Now he got a big payday at city. And maybe he won't care as much. But like Jack Greenish's type player, I could see getting a big offer

30:33from Saudi next year. You know, and I could see him, I could see him going there now, maybe now because maybe it doesn't suit his lifestyle. But I could see him taking that big offer if it comes or he could get a big offer to go to one of the ice cream. He does. He does. He will end up in MLS. But I do wonder if maybe there's like two years at AC Milan before that on good money. But yeah, he does. He screams MLS. You can just imagine Jack Greenish living his best life in America. Go into Miami with all the Spanish lads. Not have it. What are you saying? He'll just downtown Miami. You'll be grown. Dem, Dem having their jokes in Spanish and him just sitting there just laughing and smiling. Why would he give a shit? He's living in Miami. He's living his best life. Let him have it. And injury wise, Everton will have no norguards, but Garner's backs. That's good. Spurs like you said, have been a really, really disappointing team so far. But then I reviewed

31:38the transfer windows during the week. And I didn't love theirs. Like I love the signing of Fernandez, but they overpaid for Tinali and Savino. And even though I really like both players, I do find that a bit uncomfortable. They massively downgraded at center back and at full back. They've massively downgraded. And that's a big concern. And I don't know who's scoring them goals. You know, I look at the squad and I don't see where the goals are really going to come from. No javi Simmons, no older bear, no mudric, who's now out for two months by the way. Two months. So that looks like a mess already. But James Madison is fit. And somehow cooler, Seth is still injured. Now at the beginning of last season, the 25-26 season, he was predicted to be back in the November. Late November was his return day.

32:40We're 10 months on from that. And now there's no return day. Now the manager said he's very close. I'm impressed by him how he handled his injury. But he's been out well over a year with something that at the time was described as not a major issue. So I don't know what version they're going to get back. He may well be done as a top level player. We'll see. That would be a massive shame because I do very much like him. I'm going to go spurs to win this one. There's no real logic behind it. Other than the fact that they're at home. And they have to win. Because when you spend as much money as they've spent, it comes with pressure. And they have to respond to that pressure. So yeah, I'll go spurs to win. I'll go two nils. I'll go two one. Because they're not keeping it clean.

33:44Obviously, I don't know if you said the extended burglow as well. It just feels like there's not a lot of joint thinking at this club. Sorry, I never really had contract extension at Chelsea. Didn't we? Yeah, Pedro Nato. Yeah. We had stuff going on. It just feels like the safe guard of themselves a bit till the guard of themselves a bit till the reserve. He kind of blows up and leaves. Yeah. So that's like the youngsters. Does he? No. And like Bergval openly said he wanted to leave. So I reckon someone above the reserve he has said, look, this guy doesn't tend to last. Give us, give us another couple of years and we'll sort it out. Like worst case scenario. We're lonely January for a while. But yeah, not not ideal. Weird club. Weird club. Next up, then eight o'clock. This is basically the 12th club for Arsenal league champions league things. So Sunderland against Arsenal. Dave and Arsenal obviously had a perfect start to the season.

34:46Yes, that's correct. Winning Champions League midweek as well. And Sunderland, where are you? Sunderland. I've lined. Where are Sunderland? 12. Fantastic. Mixed start to the season one, one of each result, which is great consistency. Maybe that then you follow them. Yeah, I feel like this should be could be an. All could test for Arsenal, but I feel like they'll pass that all could test. I do as well. I do as well. I think for, for Sunderland, play a physical style and they'll be direct and. Build calls Arsenal some problems, but Arsenal should win this game fairly comfortably. Truth be told. Sunderland come in with no Mundell and no Habib Diara, which is disappointing because he is a player that maybe could have caused Arsenal problems running behind the midfield. Arsenal, no Celeba, Muscera is unlikely and timber might make the bench. But you know, Gamerish is back and

35:55that's going to help them in midfield because they're, you know, Grona Jacka and Noah Sedecki and those gave them a tough enough task last year. 3-1 Arsenal. Yeah, 3-1 Arsenal, Odegaard to score again. Yeah, sounds about right. Sounds about right. Onto Sunder then we have Coventry City against Brighton, Dave. I know you like a lot of Coventry and business. They've had a hellish start but I mean, Man City and Arsenal is it the whole game of obviously disappointed for obvious reasons. But as we say a whole of the best defence of team in Europe, we can't expect them to win them all. But this, it, it, maybe you would have fought the same about whole, but it does feel like this might be where their season starts because I'm guessing their Coventry's fixture list isn't now going to involve probably the two best teams the country for a little while. Yeah, and if we look ahead a week, Coventry go to forest

36:57and the game after that is Newcastle at home, then spurs away and then fullham home. So this, like Brighton are good, don't get me wrong, but this is a bit easier given it's at home than in some of those other games up until fullham. And it feels like if they don't get a win here, it could be that fullham game before they get a win and that fullham game is still, you know, multiple weeks out. So 24th of October, you can't be going that long, match day eight without a win. If you want any chance of staying up. So this feels like it's most win for Coventry. Like you said, Halish start bottom of the league, no goals scored five conceded, but they were competitive at least in the city game. No, they got beaten one nil, but they could easily have been ahead. They had a great chance to go ahead with Teo Awani missing it. The whole one, like you said,

38:03very disappointing. A draw probably would have been the fair result on the day, but they couldn't hold on. So they've got to win this one. Brighton, I think they've made a pretty decent start, obviously, with the heavy win over Villa. Then they lost to Chelsea in a mental game that ended fourth three. They just shot themselves and the thought would have really bad start. They'd a really bad start against Leeds as well, but eventually woke up and got a draw. This is, this is probably on paper, the easiest game they've had. And yet I think in some ways it's the hardest game they've had because Coventry will be desperate for the win. Coventry come in with Nohaji Wright, Noh Kain Kessler Hayden, Noh Josh Eckles, Noh Luke Wolfenden, and unlikely to see Sidiqi Sharif because he's still working his way back to match fitness. For Brighton, they've

39:05loads of issues at the minute. No minter, no matoma, no henchlewood, no vifor, no simmas, no yohana, routers a doubt, a ziz the doubt, suboad it is a doubt, and Evan Ferguson is out. So that's a lot of players. You've got seven out and three who might be okay to make the bench. Maybe the brother cook in midweek as well. That's the thing. So like, you know, this is where it's hired for her as a leader. He's going to start balancing the squad and he's going to start having to use players that maybe he wouldn't use normally. I'm going to go with Coventry when I think it'll be a good game. I'll go three to Coventry. Yeah, I think that'll be an interesting one to watch. Let's hop to Monday and we'll finish on the Manchester Darby because obviously that's the main event of the weekend. Legionated, Newcastle United, Battle of the United, Dave Leeds.

40:07I think Leeds have had a good start to the season. Obviously I'm not mad game in midweek as well. Currently sat night from five points. Winning two draws. Draw with Brentford and a draw with Brighton. That's pretty good to be first. Beatin Nottenham Forest, that's Beatin Free teams. You'd probably expect Leeds to be competing with. Beatin a team they're competing with and draw to the company. I should excuse me. Very good start. Should the conscal goals midweek and concede goals to Chelsea when they're on the starters. Newcastle, look, we knew this was going to be a weird season but they've had an excellent start again on five points. Same record, but winning the middle and two draws either side. I think this will be quite a tight game. I could see it being a bit of fun. I think Newcastle probably suit being a counter attacking team at the minute. Yeah, heavy that develops and they'll have to develop against teams like Lee2 definitely don't want the ball. But I think Leeds have now got a bit more about them than last season, especially up front with Harry Wilson, a bit

41:10more quality on the ball than say like Brendan Aronson, Calvitt Lewin. This moves probably done his career massive favours to be fair. And defensively, like as we said last season throughout when they fell in that free at the back, it's been excellent and that new lad, I know you're a big fan of from I won't say I won't say as them. I'm a little bit slow. Yeah, him, he's obviously started, this season really well as well. So I think this could be a fun but quite tight game. It wouldn't surprise me if it's another draw between them. It smells of a draw, I'll be honest. Leeds after conceding six goals, I think will be more back to being the Leeds that just doesn't give up many chances. New castles have some injuries that are going to I think pinch them a little bit. Dead itch is expected to miss out. Jaunes out, please back up goalkeeper, that's okay. But a soul is out and you know, he obviously started the season quite well. Dan Burner is still out and Jolington's out, but nobody cares. Leeds, no Mateo Joseph, no Joe Rodin, and no Ilya Gruov.

42:15It just it smells of one one to me. It wreaks of a one one in fact, so I'm going to go one one. I think it'll be a decent game though. I did do think it'd be a decent game. Yeah, I think there's a lot of watchable players in both those teams. And for the main event, as I mentioned, the Manchester Derby Dave, one of the weirdest games to predict in recent years, all logic points, even now whilst the season's very early on at Manu Knight or 11, I didn't notice that that's funny still. But like Manu said, you were the best team in the world for a few years there. Still couldn't be manipulated. What do you make of this? Obviously, Mareska's first Manchester Derby. I presume Karik had one last year, I can't remember. He did and he beat them. I think it was like his first or second game and he beat City. Yeah. And the heart city because City were trying to win the league. I think may have been one of the results that actually contributed to our national winning the league. Yeah, this is just such a hard game to project

43:19because as you said, there were seasons where City were the very best team in Europe and United were a domes to fire. And then the Derby come round and all of a sudden United would be the better team. And City would just look completely lost. They wouldn't be able to break them down and United would counter them to death. Mareska's football is a style that leaves his teams open to counters because he plays a very aggressive attacking variation and kind of only leaves three players back with Warner's cover and it leaves space in wide areas. And if you can get runners moving through central areas and shift the ball wide to players who'll drag the wide center backs out, you can get overloads in the middle. We've seen multiple times the season teams run through the middle of City off the ball and then a quick pass from a wide area and all of a sudden they're in. They've been fortunate enough that they haven't conceded too many

44:23as we go. Like I said, Coventry missed that big chance. Porto had a couple of opportunities in the week and I haven't been hugely impressed by City. Like just there's something about them that leaves me a little bit cold. I don't know what it is. Like they're obviously heavily reliant on Highland for their goals and that's fine. There's something about them. I just feel like they're missing something right now. The wingers haven't started well. Some enus been okay, the docus been in and out with its injuries. Foldens been in and out, Cherokee's been in and out, Enzo. We haven't seen him play the more advanced for all yet. I'm curious as to how that would look with Highland and the wingers. Defensively I think they're a little bit shaky, even though the defensive record so far is quite good. I think they've given up chances that better teams would take against them. United, I mean, that lost a whole comedic kind of game. They just they looked

45:27absolutely dreadful and all you could do really was laugh at how bad they were. Then they beat Ipswich and like I said, there was a big element of luck in that with the Ipswich mistake and then the McGuire-Hamball that wasn't given. Then the Everton game where they comically throw away two points. So very hard to know what to make the United. They won obviously last night in the Champions League, but I reckon we could put together an Anfield index 11 that might give Sabah a decent game. So you can't take much offending from that. City of No Doku, but Nico Royale is back. So that's good. United, no Ahmad, he normally does well against City. No Delict, no Belieber, Luke Shaw's got a Thai problem but should be okay. Ugarak does out, he's probably gonna miss most of the season.

46:30And Tom Heaton is out, but he's the back of keeper so it doesn't matter. He's the third choice keeper actually now. City should win. Everything logical says that City should win this game because to the better team. But United, out at home, United, out of pain in the arse when it comes to City. I'll go a draw. I'll go a draw. I'll go to two. Yeah, there's usually goals in these games. Yeah, I think you get the odd type one, but there is usually goals in it. So I'd be similar thinking. But that's the last game of the weekend. That's it. And that's us for the week. So I'll be back Monday. Have yourselves a great weekend. Bye bye.