Premier League Mid Season Review! Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, City, United & Spurs! - E8

In this episode of the Back Stick Podcast, Dom and Jamil delve into the current state of the Premier League's Big Six teams. They discuss Liverpool's dominance, Manchester City's struggles following Rodri's injury, and the ongoing issues at Manchester United. The conversation shifts to Arsenal's need for a game-winner, Chelsea's rise with Cole Palmer, and the persistent challenges faced by Tottenham Hotspur. The hosts provide insights and opinions on each team's performance, management, and future prospects, creating a comprehensive overview of the Premier League landscape.

00:00 The Rise of Liverpool

06:46 The Struggles of Manchester City

13:21 Is Haaland a World Class 'Footballer'?

15:53 The Current State of Manchester United

26:13 Arsenal: What More Do They Need To Win The Prem?

34:26 Arsenal's Corners

37:11 Chelsea On The Rise

44:42 Tottenham's Persistent Struggles

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Transcript

Dom Okus (00:00)
Hello and welcome to a little bit of a different episode here at the Backstik Podcast. As you can see or hear, it's just me and Jamil today. And we're going to talk you through the current state of the Big Six in the Premier League. But before we jump into things, Jam how you doing, bro?

Jamil Roberts (00:20)
I'm alright mate, I'm alright. As we record this episode, United are currently playing Liverpool and we're not getting battered yet. So I'm a happy man. But other than that, it's been a good day. I'm looking forward to this one, like you said, a little bit different. But yeah, looking to get our teeth into this one. yeah, guess where are we going to start, mate?

Dom Okus (00:27)
hahahaha

Yeah, man, let's do it.

Yeah, I'll start. And you you've queued us up perfectly there. Liverpool are playing United, so let's start with Liverpool. I think going into the season, I don't think anyone thought Liverpool would be running away with it, which is what it looks like at the moment. Salah absolutely firing on all cylinders. The team has gelled together amazing. They've got a new manager. And I think, let's just be honest, right? People thought Arne Slot was a good manager, but I don't think anyone expected this.

I think they're playing a much more attractive style of football than they did under Klopp. in my opinion, like with the ball. And so yeah, they just started on absolute flames. And I hate to say it, but it looks like we've got our Premier League leaders and winners already. It's early, but I think we've got it. What do you think, bro? Obviously that probably pains you as United fan, but what you thinking?

Jamil Roberts (01:28)
Nah mate.

Mate Mate

I think you've the nail on the head because you talk about the style of play like Klopp's football for the last however many years six seven years he was at the club when they were at that high level I as a United fan for rubbing my hands together because obviously I've seen what's happened when a Dutch manager comes into the Premier League and I'm thinking rubbing my hands together thinking he's gonna he's gonna sink the whole ship and he's just taking it

Dom Okus (01:53)
Hahaha!

Yeah.

Jamil Roberts (01:59)
He's just tweaked it a little bit and they just look so much more balanced. They look so much more in control of games. And then, you you touch on Salah, like his numbers have never been better. And, you know, he looks like he's reborn, like in this system. Whatever slight tweaks or slots are made to that line-up,

overall, I think it suits the group of players a lot more that they...

They've taken, I think the word that I used earlier on was control. There's just so much more control of games, which is at the end of the day what a lot of managers are striving for, but he's just got it from day dot. And that's quite impressive for any manager coming into the Premier League.

Dom Okus (02:38)
Yeah, I agree. And I think the thing that he's done the best is moving Gravenberch from like a box to box midfielder, which is what we think he came to the league for, to like this deep line kind of playmaker. His control of the game. Obviously he can cover a lot of ground. He's been phenomenal this season. Obviously Salah. But I think the biggest thing that I've noticed about Liverpool is no matter who comes in, they've all performed. Kelleher in goal. Jota when he gets to play. Gakpo.

Jamil Roberts (02:56)
Mm-hmm.

Dom Okus (03:10)
Diaz, whoever's playing, Tsimikas whoever gets to play has done a really good job. And I think that is what you need from your league leaders, right? Is that everyone's fighting on all cylinders. It looks like it's good vibes. Whenever anyone scores, they're all jumping, celebrating together. And so I think that's a testament to the manager and the environment he's created is that they're all firing. But one thing that we have to speak about when it comes to Liverpool is their three best players.

it seems like anyway, might be leaving at the end of the season, right? So we've got Trent, Alexander-Arnold, we've got Mo Salah, we've got Van Dijk. I doubt they're gonna let all three of them go, but it looks like strongly two of them are gonna leave, right? And that Trent and Mo Salah don't seem to have got their contract situation figured out. So what do you make of that?

Jamil Roberts (03:54)
Yeah.

Well, I mean, just at the time of this recording, obviously Salah's just done the... I don't know if you saw the interview with Sky Sports, where he's even quoted himself saying, you know, this is my last year at the club. So that one kind of looks dead in the water for Liverpool in terms of, you know, salvaging that contract situation. And obviously that, the knock-on effect, I think losing Mo Salah, as crazy as it sounds with the amount of output that he gives to that team, I think losing Mo Salah at this point in his career...

They could replace him they could tweak the system They could tweak little bits and that don't get me wrong the other Liverpool attackers are still great players But when you lose if you were to lose someone like Van Dijk who at the end of the day, let's be let's be real He is the glue that keeps that team together If you were to lose someone like Van Dijk Who arguably has been the best center-half  in the world in the last five or six seasons at least?

Dom Okus (04:45)
No

100%.

Jamil Roberts (05:01)
To lose someone like that and then obviously Trent who in a Liverpool shirt is Phenomenal we can say what we want about how he plays for England or what he does or doesn't do for England But he's phenomenal in a Liverpool shirt so To lose one I think they could replace but once you start talking about two or three That's that those are those are big pieces to any managers puzzle that they're arguably irreplaceable

Dom Okus (05:29)
I I think Van Dijk is, I completely agree with you. I think Van Dijk is the one that they can't lose. But moreover, I don't think we've been blessed right now in football with a plethora of like elite talent. Like let's say they let Salah go, who do they replace him with? Let's say they let Trent go, who do they replace them with? That's even close. Now maybe you invest in a young player who's 19 or 20 and say, hey, look, you're going to, how many are going to be firing straight away, but it might get to that level.

If you're looking for that instant impact, I'm not sure there's many players that can replace Trent at right back or can replace Salah at right wing.

Jamil Roberts (06:06)
Yeah, and if and if you

are you're talking they're already at massive clubs, right? So you're gonna have to spend crazy amounts to replace them players. So You know it I mean at that point it's up to the scouting department and the manager to know within his own network. However Yes at that point you're talking about the creme de la creme So you've got to be patient like you said with a with a young player or you've got to just open up the check work and go for it

Dom Okus (06:11)
Yeah, literally.

Yeah.

Yeah, I agree, mate. I agree, I agree. Right, let's move on to our next big 16. Should we go to City? If we're going to talk about Liverpool, I think we've got to talk about City.

Jamil Roberts (06:46)
Yeah,

yeah mate. Well, I mean, we talk about a sinking ship.

Who could have called that this season? Especially with the way they started off as well. looked like business as usual. Haaland was scoring every single game. They were picking up points top of the league. Looked like they were chilling. And then, Rodri.

Dom Okus (06:52)
Poor.

Yep.

Jamil Roberts (07:14)
Rodri gets injured and I have never ever in my whole life of watching football seen a team crumble so so evidently in front of all of our eyes other than this Man City team with one player being taken out of it. like we all knew obviously obviously he just won the Ballon d'Or right. Whether you whether you agree with it or not.

He's an unbelievable player. His world class is one of the best players in the world. But no one could have predicted the impact of him just not even being there would have on this man's city team. Because let's be honest, they looked that was it four or five Premier Leagues in a row now? Four.

No one they looked they Unstoppable even unstoppable, you know, they won the treble a couple of years ago. They just romped the league again They looked unstoppable and you just think like no matter how good you think about Klopp's Liverpool teams No matter how good they were they always found a way to be better And then obviously you take you you add pep into that situation arguably the best manager of all time You just think like where is the weakness where where are they where is

Dom Okus (08:04)
Unstoppable.

Yeah.

Jamil Roberts (08:28)
this is gonna go wrong and no one could have predicted how bad it was because how many games did they go without a win? 8, 9, 10 games?

Dom Okus (08:35)
I wanna say,

I think it was more than that, mate. I think it was at 12 or 13. It was something crazy. But a question I have is, is it just because of Rodri? Like, I find it hard to believe they go from like this unstoppable team, it's almost like Thanos from the Avengers, to like, not like barely beating mid-table Premier League teams. like, the stack, my biggest thing with City, right, if you just get unlucky, you're playing the same way and you lose, I'm like, you know, maybe you've just got some bad luck.

Jamil Roberts (08:45)
See?

Yeah

Dom Okus (09:05)
but they look like a bad team. Like they're not connecting simple passes. Harland's missing tappings, like all of this stuff. I'm like, is something happening behind the scenes that we're not aware about? Maybe Pep's falling out with the dressing room or he's falling out with a big player who's big on the culture. We know how much that can affect things, but it just seems to be something more than Rodri's injured and so we've turned to a bad team. That just doesn't seem fathomable to me, but maybe it is.

Jamil Roberts (09:23)
Yeah.

Nah,

I completely agree and The game that sums it up for me was the United one just recently, right? Like United and City looked on a par. In my opinion, I think they looked on a par and that is from the standards that Manchester City have set. To be on a par with the United team of this generation is embarrassing for them. Do you know what mean? And they got the goal.

Dom Okus (09:49)
Okay.

Jamil Roberts (09:59)
I thought United was still the better team in the second half and then they nicked two goals and they and that just sums it up and I think that that aligns with what you were saying because there's got to be something going on other than just one play again taking out a team because you don't concede too late goals against your biggest arguably your biggest rivals at home in a time where you're struggling if you're not mentally checked in do you know what mean? Like and there has to be something more but

One thing I actually wanted to touch on as well before we move on, when it comes to City, when it comes to Pep, is I think this is a massive challenge for him. It's something he's never had to face before, because if you think he came through Barcelona, did his thing, had his team, left. Didn't rebuild it, didn't do anything, right? Took his time away, went to Bayern, had his team, built it, won titles, left. This is the first time we've ever seen Pep Guardiola have to do a Sir Alex, or...

Dom Okus (10:36)
Yeah.

Jamil Roberts (10:55)
Awesome banger and rebuild a team right like they had their they had their period of success We've never seen him look at it and go okay This piece needs to be tweaked or this piece or be ruthless and go and sell a big player to bring in the next big thing So I think this is a really big challenge that could basically that I think Now people people talk about managerial debates, and who's the best of all time and this and that I think if you can come through this and then rebuild this city team to be title winners again and again and again

Dom Okus (11:10)
Yeah.

Jamil Roberts (11:24)
then that puts him in that conversation of rivaling Sir Alex Ferguson for being the best manager of all time.

Dom Okus (11:30)
Does he have time to rebuild the team? So what I've been thinking about is if Manchester City have a poor second half of the season, and let's say they finish outside the top four, can you sack Pep Guardiola for not finishing inside the top four?

Jamil Roberts (11:48)
don't think any manager is unsackable but the thought of sacking Pep Guardiola is crazy.

Dom Okus (11:58)
crazy. But I feel like you

almost if you're going to be in a league club you have to be ruthless. Like Real Madrid they don't mess about. Clubs like Chelsea they don't mess about. I think Man United have almost been victims of trying to still live in the Sir Alex Ferguson era of we're going to stick by the manager, stick by the manager. But you can see this isn't working, get him out. If this is six months he's not working, get him out now. Like we're talking about Pep here who's built up you know.

probably gonna go down as the greatest manager of all time, like transformed when city into this global super team. like speaking about sacking him does sound crazy, but at what point is he gonna be able to underachieve? Like they're not gonna do well in the Champions League based on what we see from the team. They might finish outside the top four. They might finish with no trophies and say, okay, let's say we give him this season and that starts to trend again next season.

Do they have to pull the plug or do they just stick by it because of what he's done?

Jamil Roberts (12:59)
That's way above my pay grade because I like I said that I peps one of the best ever and like I said no managers unsacrable, but that does every managers got a leash right and and he's he's really Stretching it at the moment You know so but Yeah

Dom Okus (13:02)
Hahaha!

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Just quickly before we move on, can we talk about Harland?

Now, I got a lot of shit for this, because I have opinions on Harland very early on. I hate the way he plays football. Hate it. Now, he is extremely effective, but I think he represents this new generation of football where everything is about efficiency, least touches, right areas, data.

Jamil Roberts (13:46)
STATISTICS

Dom Okus (13:47)
Yeah, data, like all of this stuff and like from a data, XG, this thing, XG, all this stuff. And it's like, look, that stuff works when the team is perfect, right? All the patterns are perfect, everything's connected. But in this type of team, I just need like a, for me, like a Sergio Aguero, right? Who you're not supposed to score this, but you do a little shift, shift, bang, go. Win your team the game. And so I'm like, I'm not.

Discredit in what Erden Hyland's done, obviously he's come to the Premier League, he's lighting it up, but I think we're starting to see cracks in this perfect striker that he is because when the going gets tough and you don't really touch the ball in the game and you don't really get any chances, you're really ineffective for the team. Really ineffective.

Jamil Roberts (14:32)
Yeah, and if anything

he's a detriment to the team as well because let's be honest. He's not the hardest worker He's not he's not harrying and pressing center-arths and getting in faces very often You might seem kick someone when he's frustrated and he's nearby, but he's not he's not doing You know the doggy work And and I very much agree with you. I'm not a fan of this statistic based football opinion in the modern era I'm really not because you know

Dom Okus (14:37)
literally

I think we're

Jamil Roberts (15:01)
Let's just call a spade a spade like Erling Haaland is not the best footballer in the Premier League However, he will be in the running for the player of the year every single year I'm like and I agree with you when you say I'm not discrediting anything is done It's amazing his record his efficiency is everything is absolutely outstanding. However, is he the best footballer or anywhere near? Being the best football player in the Premier League. He's miles off it

Dom Okus (15:06)
No.

miles off it. Like for me you can't even put someone like Trent and Harland in the same conversation when it comes to football. When it comes to playing football like it's just a clear difference. Anyone who knows football can look at these two people playing football and be like there was a clear difference here. So not to dwell too much on Harland and kill him because I do think he's a good player but I feel like he's just been over-hatred by all these people who really don't know anything about the game. Swiftly moving on let's stay in Manchester.

Jamil Roberts (15:28)
Hey

Yes.

hahahaha

Dom Okus (15:56)
Let's stay in Manchester and talk about the team that you just mentioned, United and kind of City being on par with them in this current generation of Man United team is a little bit disgraceful. Now I know this is going to be a sore subject for you. So I'll tread lightly. But what is going on with Man United? Right. So you started off the season with Eric Tenhag. There was a lot of talk about getting him out in the summer. You decided to stay with him and then ended up sacking him.

Jamil Roberts (16:12)
Go with-

Dom Okus (16:26)
kind of early on into the season and now you're with Rume and Ameren and it seems to be more of the same. Right, we've spoken about it in a few of our previous episodes but there's been no new manager bounce, right? Like it's just been business as usual, we're just gonna keep being crap. So before we dive into the details, as a Man United fan, what are your thoughts? Do you think you should have just got Ameren in in the summer? Do you think Ameren was the right choice?

And knowing what you know now, just what are your feelings as a minion

Jamil Roberts (16:57)
The first thing the first thing that I'll touch on is I think it's it's It's the first task or test failed by the the new ownership because they had a chance to Make a decision in the summer and I think they were blinded by emotion by winning a trophy and thinking that will paint over the cracks and it didn't and and I think the damage that Eric ten Hargis done to that football club in terms of bringing those players in and being desperate And obviously then the club

Dom Okus (17:12)
Mm.

Jamil Roberts (17:26)
Authorizing the fees that he's played pay for some of those. Let's face it just below average players for the level that many night of require so the damage that has been done is is not gonna be Reversed just by a new manager coming in The feeling for me as a United fan is is I'm I've never been so behind a manager and almost almost like

I feel like the whole fan base is so behind the manager because we're so sick of these players. Like, we're just so sick of the same thing over and over again. It's the little, we love this new bloke, we throw him under the bus. And repeat. And this bloke, anyone with two eyes can see, Ruben Amorim knows what he's doing. He knows what he's talking about.

Dom Okus (17:56)
Mmm.

Jamil Roberts (18:15)
He the way handles himself the way communicates the way he treats situations the way he's treated the Marcus Rashford situation recently I think has been outstanding because it's been a long overdue and the last thing is You talk about him just in terms of football and us going forward It's the first time a new manager has come in and said we're playing this way We're playing this way and that we're playing my way and if you are not on the bus, then get off the bus And yeah

Dom Okus (18:44)
Simple.

Jamil Roberts (18:45)
and all of a sudden you are seeing players that are either throwing the toys out of the pram or they're just getting exposed for how far off they are. And there's no other way to really put it. It's how far off they are. And I think the writing's on the wall for a lot of this squad. It's just whether or not the club can get them out because of the astronomical wages that most of them are on.

Dom Okus (18:59)
you

Yeah, I agree. You touched on something that I want to double click into. Marcus Rashford, who for me is a player that I do think is good enough to be a Man United player. I do think he's good enough to be, you know, a key part of the England squad. But for whatever reason, it just hasn't been clicking over the last four or five years, really. It's been really up and down. Now, I might be in the camp of

Jamil Roberts (19:15)
you

Dom Okus (19:41)
delusion when I say this but when I look at Man United since Ferguson left I don't think anyone has consistently performed there's a few players that you could name that might be in the conversation I would say Bruno Fernandes is one of them that has typically thrown up on the pitch De Gea was another one

Outside of that, I don't think there's many players that you could say consistently perform. People had good spurts, right? Rashford had a good season with it last season or the season before. Martial when he first joined the club. There's like a few players that I can name that. Yeah, I had a good, yeah, I had little purple patches, but. So then I'm like, okay, is this a man United thing or is this an individual player thing? Because where I'm going next is there's a bunch of players in my opinion that I just don't think are good enough to be.

Jamil Roberts (20:22)
Yeah, little purple patches.

Mm-mm.

Dom Okus (20:37)
at Man United if they want to be a title challenging team. Right? Like I think you really have to gut the squad, which is what you're saying. But this is like a three, four, five year project. If you're going to get to where you want to be to get out the old guard, really get an Amaryn's team and give them time to develop and grow. Does he have that luxury? I don't know if he does because the results are not going to come in the next two years. You're not going to go from mid table Man United.

to title challenges in two seasons? It's just not gonna happen. You don't have the players. So are you okay as a Man United fan sticking by bad results to get to kind of where Arsenal are today, right? When Arteta came in, wasn't the best and now it looks like, you know, they're challenging for the title. Maybe not this season, but definitely the last couple of seasons. So what do you think?

Jamil Roberts (21:13)
Ahem.

My immediate reaction to that is I'll double down again on talking about the damage that Eric Ten Hag's reign and previous reigns has done to the club. So I think it was Henry Winter, one of the journalists who I can't remember if it was the... Yeah, he does a bit with the telegraph, I think a bit with the athletic, but I might be wrong with that as well. But basically he was talking about the damage that just can't be undone right now and basically United have run out of money.

Dom Okus (21:46)
Asgards, boys.

But, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Jamil Roberts (21:58)
So you like you're spot-on when you talk about this is this isn't just a quick fix United have no money to spend We're still paying off people like Alexis Sanchez like Angel Di Maria You know and the list goes on of players that we're still paying off transfer fees. We're still paying off players wages They're still on the books. That's why when the ownerships come in there's this big exodus of staff You know, I think it's over 250 people have been let go from the club. There's budget cuts there's you know, all these things going on around the club because

Dom Okus (21:59)
and love.

Jamil Roberts (22:28)
of the damage that's been done.

At the end of the day, this isn't a quick fix in terms of a couple transfer windows anymore. There isn't money to spend anymore in terms of the PSR rules and everything. So yes, at the end of the day, think you have to swallow it up and be okay with it as a Man United fan. Because there's a manager there who clearly knows what he's doing and you've just got to trust what he's going to do on the training ground. And you've to trust the players he's going to bring in are going to be better than the ones that we've had. Or at least going to be...

brought into this new era of Manchester United because at end of the day you can sit there and you can say are you okay with it not being a quick fix or this that or whatever but we've had 10 years of quick fixes and we've only just gone lower and lower in the table so I think the new coach and the new ownership have to commit to this now and almost say listen this is the direction we're going in and it will pay off eventually

just stick with it and that's when you find out if there really are Plastic Man United fans which a lot of people think that there are in our generation. So I think it's an interesting time. One that I'm personally excited for because I can't stand half of these players.

Dom Okus (23:36)
Yeah.

Yeah, I think that can stay if I was the manager. I think Amad think Garnacho, I think Fernandes, I think Dalot I think Mazrouhi

Jamil Roberts (23:50)
Ahem.

Dom Okus (24:04)
think Martinez, I think Martinez and I'm going to shock people with this one, but I actually think, no, no, with the right, hold on, with the right defense in front of him will actually be good. His distribution is great. And that's what you're going to need in a ball playing team. And for me, yeah, it's very difficult to go from like the best keeper in Europe, right? Voted in the champion league in that to like a pile of crap.

Jamil Roberts (24:05)
those out for me.

Dom Okus (24:34)
It's so hard to do that. And we've seen it time and time again with United players. They go to United and they just look crap. And go to Di Maria, for example. They just look rubbish and they're not bad players. Paul Pogba. Like a bunch of, we can go down the list of players that have gone to United and just look crap, right? So I'm not discarding the fact that Onana looks crap, but he's got the attributes to be a really good modern keeper. So a lot of people disagree with me saying Onana's actually going to be all right under the right team, but like.

Jamil Roberts (24:44)
you

you

Dom Okus (25:02)
I don't see anyone who's gone to Man United and looked good. So yeah, you might disagree with me a of those, but those are the players I think can stay. Everybody else?

Jamil Roberts (25:07)
That's fine. That's

Mine's very short and very quick. I'd keep Ahmad Diallo. I keep Maserawi. I'd keep the Licked. I'd keep Ugarte. I'd keep Kabi Maynu

Dom Okus (25:13)
Yep. Mm-hmm. Mm.

Mm.

I'd keep Kobe as well. I forgot him. I'd keep Kobe as well.

Jamil Roberts (25:26)
And...

give Holland a bit more time. Everyone else, bounce.

Dom Okus (25:35)
Bruno Bruno.

Jamil Roberts (25:36)
Bruno don't fit in this system, not a chance. I think he's an unbelievable player and I'm so grateful for him for holding the place together for the last few years. I love him, I do, but there's not a place for him in this team going forward if we're gonna commit to this. He's not a left forward, he's not disciplined enough to play as a center midfielder in a two. He's not a left wing back, he's not a right wing back, he's not a striker. I just don't see where he fits and most of the time he's a detriment to us.

Dom Okus (25:39)
I lost.

Yeah.

That's it.

Jamil Roberts (26:06)
But, listen, that's just me, it was very quick, because as you can tell, my patience is short with this lot. But where I want to move to next is I want to move to a team that's, like you referenced there, who've obviously come through that period of rebuild, and now they're sort of back up the top of the league, so I want to talk about Arsenal for a second. So obviously now this is, their third season, where they're sort of around the top two, they're challenging City, obviously now Liverpool have leapfrogged them, so...

Dom Okus (26:09)
Hehehehehe

Hmm

Jamil Roberts (26:35)
You know, they're trying it, they're just trying to be, to win the league and they're just not quite there every year. So the question I want to pose to you just off right off the bat is, know, who, what is it, what's missing for Arsenal? What is it that's missing that City have had and now Liverpool have got this year? Because they're a great team, no one can deny that they're not a great team. They have so many pieces of the puzzle, but they're clearly missing something. In your opinion, what is it?

Dom Okus (27:03)
So I've said this for a few years and I've been slated for it because people misconstrue what I'm about to say Arsenal have not had a game winner since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. They haven't had someone who they can say when the going gets tough who is going to win me the game? Not who is a good player They've had players that are better than Aubameyang I think Saka is better than Aubameyang

Jamil Roberts (27:13)
Ahem.

water.

Dom Okus (27:31)
I think Odegaard's better than the Aubameyang. I Saliba, different position, is better than the Aubameyang. The team at large might be better individually than the Aubameyang, but he was a game winner. Put, give him the ball, give him a chance, he's gonna win the game when the going gets tough. Saka, as amazing as he is, is not that player. Martinelli, definitely not. Gabriel Jesus, definitely not. Odegaard, definitely not. All great players, right? All great players. And it seems like...

Jamil Roberts (27:50)
Nah, he's not.

Dom Okus (28:00)
times Trossard has been that player for whatever reason, but they haven't had a player who consistently is going to be your game winner. And that is what wins titles, right? You can think of any title winning team and you think who has been the man. You think of Jamie Vardy at Leicester, you think of Robin Van Persie at Man United, you think of Sergio Aguero, you think of Haaland more recently or KDB or Aguero. Like these are the players who win titles Mo Salah

Jamil Roberts (28:04)
Big player.

Dom Okus (28:29)
These are the players who win titles. Arsenal don't have that and that is why they have not won a title.

Jamil Roberts (28:36)
Mate, you've literally nailed it. Nailed it. my god. And do know what? The Aubameyang shout is unbelievable by the way because I would have probably gone back to Sanchez and when you actually think about it, Aubameyang was that guy for a while as well, especially after Sanchez went to United. I want to go another way as well because I agree with you, I really think they're a 20-goal-of-season striker away from challenging.

Dom Okus (28:39)
you

Yes.

Yeah.

Jamil Roberts (29:06)
I wanna talk about something else as well though. there's two different things, right? The first one is, and I don't think people really highlight this enough in my opinion, I think their full backs are shite.

Dom Okus (29:10)
Yes.

You think?

Jamil Roberts (29:21)
I'm sorry Ben White was brought in to play center half. He wasn't good enough to play center half So they moved into right back is Ben White one of the best right backs in the country in the Premier League If you were to stack him up all the top the the 20 right backs that start for all 20 players that teams in the Premier League Is he is he anywhere near the top three top four top five? And then you got on the other side you've got Zinchenko who clearly hasn't done the business because they brought in Califiori and Califiori

Dom Okus (29:24)
Mm.

Jamil Roberts (29:49)
Clearly is not doing the business either because they've been playing that lad Kivior on the left hand side there as well If you look at if you look at City and Liverpool who have won the most recent titles Liverpool, Robertson and Trent you look at City, Karl Walker, Cancelo, Benjamin Mendy All of them, Guardiola, exactly, top fullbacks, fullbacks are so key in the modern game and for me I think Arsenal's fullbacks are so far off of that level you're telling me that Mikel Arteta doesn't look at that and go

Dom Okus (30:05)
Goodbye, deal. Yeah.

Mm.

Hmm.

Jamil Roberts (30:19)
I can upgrade at right back. I can go, I could have gone and got a, I don't know, João Cancelo, right? When he was available from City. And you think he wouldn't be better than Ben White? I'm not, I'm not, I'm not slating Ben White big time here because obviously he's a great player, but he was brought into play centre-half. He got moved to right back and they've just kind of settled with it there. Now he's a brilliant player, but is he, is he that person in those fullback positions?

Dom Okus (30:26)
Mm.

So I would say.

Jamil Roberts (30:46)
that's going to take Arsenal to the next level and give them that different dynamic and attack.

Dom Okus (30:52)
So I do think they actually tried to solve for that right with Timber, Julian Timber, who they signed what the beginning of last season and then he got injured and was out for the whole season. But I actually quite like him. Been kind of to see a little bit more, but I actually quite like him. But I completely agree with your point on the left side that Zinchenko was a 10 at City and has gone to left back and it's just not that good. And then Califiori, in my opinion, isn't an improvement on that. They signed the player that wasn't an improvement. So what was the point?

Jamil Roberts (31:17)
No.

Exactly. And you know, I'm seeing shouts in the summer of, he's so aesthetically pleasing. Like, come on, just tell everyone that you fancy him. Like...

Dom Okus (31:30)
Yeah.

Jamil Roberts (31:34)
He's good-looking he's Italian we get it like

Dom Okus (31:36)
Brilliant. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. No, I agree. I agree. yeah, Arsenal, I don't know, until they sign that, and it doesn't necessarily even have to be a striker, right? Because in the modern era, anyone who plays across the front three can be a goal scorer, right? Can be that 20, 25.

So maybe it's they replace Martinelli with someone who's a killer, right? But I just don't know who that person would be without taking from your rivals. Right?

Jamil Roberts (32:05)
Yeah. Yeah. If

I'm being honest and I throw out a name right now, which I would love to see in the Premier League because I think he plays within himself in the Madrid team. But if you were to bring this lad in and play on the left side of most teams, I think Rodrigo from Real Madrid would light the league up. If someone was to break the bank, and I'm not just talking for Arsenal because I think he'd be perfect for Arsenal, but I think he'd be perfect for a lot.

Dom Okus (32:24)
Mmm... Polar.

Jamil Roberts (32:33)
Teams he would start on that left side in nearly every single team in the Premier League He would be unbelievable so

Dom Okus (32:38)
Yeah, yeah, I agree. What

do you think about these shouts for Rashford going to Arsenal?

Jamil Roberts (32:46)
I mean, I'd wave them out the door.

Dom Okus (32:49)
I

honestly think that could be a mistake, you know? Because I think he could do all right.

Jamil Roberts (32:54)
Listen Dom, I've watched that player for so long. Walk

around the pitch, not give a shit. He's supposed to be Mr Manchester, Mr Mancunian, Mr I love the badge. I'm sorry. He hasn't shown it for years. And then people go back to the season under 10 hard where he scored goals. He wasn't playing well, he was scoring goals. There's a big difference. The goals have dried up and his performances haven't improved.

Dom Okus (33:16)
Windows, right? Yeah.

Jamil Roberts (33:22)
if anything they've got even worse so I'm not I would wave him out the door and I would guarantee you within within five games Arsenal fans have been moaning about it just the same way that Chelsea fans are moaning about Jayden Sancho when he's turned up to them and saying all the same things that United fans have been saying about Jayden Sancho when he was at United all the same complaints Leopards don't change their spots it's one thing that

Dom Okus (33:24)
Right.

Mm-mm.

in

Jamil Roberts (33:51)
Roy Keane says all the time and I mean, I like I said, I would wave Marcus Rashford out the door and I wish him all the best because he has been a good servant to my United Football Club, but it's time to go and if Arsenal were to come in for him and make that move, all the best Marcus, all the best and even even more best wishes to the Arsenal fans.

Dom Okus (33:53)
Yeah.

Yeah.

Not fair, no very fair, very fair, very fair. So yeah, I think they just need to go out and get a goal scorer. They're so close, man. They're a brilliant team. They defend well, they're resilient, good camaraderie, play good football. I think lastly, before we move on, this thing about Arsenal on corners that they get stick about, that they get stick about. Yeah, it's like, is it really?

Jamil Roberts (34:33)
I'm glad you brought it up.

modern day stoke city?

Dom Okus (34:41)
You know, like, ultimately to get a lot of corners, you've got to attack up.

Jamil Roberts (34:42)
aww mate it is come on

Dom Okus (34:45)
But ultimately to get a lot of corners, you've to attack. I'm not defending them, right? I hate Arsenal fans. Just to be clear, I absolutely hate them. They are the most entitled, pompous, like, fan base for teams that have done, for a team that's done nothing, right? They've done nothing in the Premier League in the last 20 years. Nothing, right? Had a few good goals and that's it, right?

Jamil Roberts (34:56)
you

Dom Okus (35:07)
And now they're talking because they had the invincibles, because they had a few Premier Leagues in the early 2000s and late 90s. They're like, oh, where are Arsenal? Hate them. But I will say, like, yes, they've got this set piece coach and there's a lot of like, banter around that. But ultimately, to get a lot of corners, you have to be in the final third a lot. So I don't think they should be getting bantered because they win a lot of corners and then have this big fucker in the back, Gabrielle, who comes in and towels over everyone. Like, you gotta use it, you know what mean?

Jamil Roberts (35:28)
Yeah, but it's, alright but the diff...

Right,

okay, but this is where I draw the line because if they're winning games 5-0 and They're getting maybe it nicking a goal from a corner every single game all good because the attacks firing on all cylinders But made their nicking games 1-0 their winning game. They're beating United 2-0 Right and they're they're they're slating us after they scored two goals from a corner Do you know I mean that they're they're turning up away at fucking I don't know ding-dong

Dom Okus (35:48)
Mm. Yeah.

Yeah.

Right.

Jamil Roberts (36:04)
merrily on high FC, keeping the ball for 90 minutes, getting a corner in the 85th minute and then running off and sliding into the corner flag. I just, I don't, I don't buy that, it falls on the manager for me. Mikel Arteta has been there for long enough to have figured out ways to, how can I best, to create goals to get the best out of his attackers other than a corner. And don't get me wrong.

Dom Okus (36:12)
In fact...

Yeah. Yeah, brand.

Jamil Roberts (36:34)
Like, you- don't get me wrong, scoring goals from corners wins you leagues. Those- being good on set pieces are things that win you leagues and I'm not discrediting that, right? But you have to have more. You have to have more. And it's like, you know, they've just gone- they've just gone and drawn against Brighton. Okay, yeah, Brighton are a top side. But those are the games where you should- you should go and steamroll. If you're gonna win the- if you're gonna win the league, that should be- you look at that, you go Brighton away, bosh, that's three points.

Dom Okus (36:40)
Yeah.

I think that's fair.

Yeah.

Yeah, no, you make a good point. And I guess it's the brand, right? The brand of Arsenal can't be a set piece team. So I get it, right? I get it. get it. No, it's fair. It's fair. It's very fair. Right. Let's stay in London then. And to go into the last team that I want to discuss before we kick it back to you, I'm just going to do this. For those that are listening, I'm rubbing my shoulders like I'm cold because the Blake Cole Palmer has been on fire.

Jamil Roberts (37:09)
Yeah.

Dom Okus (37:32)
Right up there with best player in the league, right up there with best players in the world, like I think some people thought it was a little bit of a purple patch, but he showed us he's here to stay. He's firing on all cylinders, set pieces, goals, assists, like everything is just running through Cole Palmer at the moment. And he's fired Chelsea back into them being a top side again in the Premier League. And I think from my perspective,

they needed the manager like Maresca to bring it all together because they were signing good players, right? Like they signed a bunch of good players. They still had maybe too many good players. Yeah, maybe too many good players. And they needed a manager to say, look, right, you're not in my plans, you're not in my plans, you're not in my plans, you're not in my plans, this is the way we're gonna play, this is the structure, this is the team, and let's just move forward. And I think he's done that excellently. He seems to have like a real core of players that he likes and plays and then will rotate in from there.

Jamil Roberts (38:03)
Mm-hmm.

Maybe too many.

Dom Okus (38:28)
So where do we think, Jam to you, where do we think Chelsea can finish come the end of the season? Like are they gonna be there or thereabouts or are they still a little bit far off of being real title challengers?

Jamil Roberts (38:40)
think they're a few pieces away. I think Chelsea fans were very, very wise to, as soon as they got up into second, then they were given it, we're not in a title race, we're not in a title race. Because I think they're right, that I don't think they are anywhere near Liverpool. I don't think they're near Arsenal yet. But no one can deny the talent that they've got in their squad, like you mentioned. And I just want to circle back on Cole Palmer quickly because

Dom Okus (38:42)
Right.

Jamil Roberts (39:09)
I've said this to a few of my mates and I'll state it right here and I'll put my neck on the line. I think since the back end of last season.

I think he's been the best player in the world. I genuinely don't think there has been a better performing footballer on the planet than Cole Palmer in terms of his output, in terms of his influence on a game, in terms of, you talked about earlier, that guy who can just win a game on his own. He'll put the team on his back and he'll just go and do it. I think he will be one of the front runners to win the Ballon d'Or this year. he maintains this level, because I don't see anyone else performing to this level.

It's outstanding. It's one of the best. I think he's one of the best players and it's so nice because he's English as well because people talk about Harry Kane and his numbers and this and that but even Harry Kane wasn't doing some of the things in my opinion that Cole Palmer's doing and that influence on that Chelsea team and obviously it's a shame that Gareth Southgate held him back in the summer but when he finally played him, you know

goalie scored in the final in the Euro. was it the final against Netherlands? can't remember.

Dom Okus (40:22)
it was against Neverland. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Jamil Roberts (40:24)
to get us back in the game. Do know what mean?

I truly think he's amazing. I think he's absolutely amazing. I think if they can hold on to him, keep him at that level and build the team around him, players play through him, that's the only way that Chelsea will get to the top and get to win in the league again because I think the boy is incredible.

Dom Okus (40:33)
Yeah.

Yeah, him and Drew Bellinum are gonna be the two players I maybe feel voting to actually that are gonna like drive us to the next like championship as an England team, I think. Like those three flying on all five on all cylinders, I don't think there is another nation that has three players of that age who can do what those three boys can do. Like unbelievable player. But to keep it on Chelsea, like.

Jamil Roberts (41:03)
Mm-hmm. Yeah, great.

Nah, yeah

Dom Okus (41:20)
clearly got the investment behind them and the money behind them, seemed to have a good manager, seemed to have figured it out stylistically on the pitch. I see Caicedo has been fantastic this season. think we're starting to see, yeah, I think we started to see what Chelsea paid for. Enzo looks good. I know he's been a little bit injured, but Enzo looks good. Nicholas Jackson looks good, even though he's still a little bit raw, he looks good.

Jamil Roberts (41:31)
Looks like the one we've seen at Brighton again.

Dom Okus (41:46)
I know we talked about Sancho earlier and people complaining about him, but I actually think he looked all right. Jal Felix, the Defenders, Colwell. So yeah, Chelsea have got a really good team. Gusto have got a really good team together. And it'll be interesting to see because they're all so young. I really do think, depending on how they set things up in the summer, next season, when they've had a season to play together.

Jamil Roberts (42:05)
Mm-mm.

Dom Okus (42:12)
Depending on what happens at Liverpool, you might see Trent and Mo Salah move on. Mancita kind of going through this transitionary period. Arsenal might have not figured it out. They really could be there where they're about next season if they continue to kick on. Yeah, if they continue to kick on.

Jamil Roberts (42:23)
It's there for the taking for him, definitely.

One player that you mentioned there, and I put him in someone that's very exciting, not just for Chelsea fans and for that era, right, but for England as well, is Levi Colwell. I watched him play for Huddersfield on loan. His first experience of first-team football, I think he was 18 or 19, and he walked the championship. I don't think...

Dom Okus (42:38)
cooler.

Jamil Roberts (42:52)
People understand how difficult that is. At any age, to go on loan and to walk the championship. The championship is a seriously high quality league. He stepped in as a centre half at 18-19 and walked it. Looked unbelievable. And I remember thinking like, he's gonna play for England. And he's left footed, centre back, quick, strong, good on the ball. He's got everything.

Dom Okus (42:57)
mate.

Jamil Roberts (43:20)
And I'm so glad that Mareska has brought him in because there's been so many young players that have come through that Chelsea academy over the years that have been let go, that have not had the opportunity, that have not this for whatever reason, this, that or the other. But he is one, he's one that I think will be an England centre half, will play left side of centre back for England for years to come. And if Chelsea again can get the best out of him and put the right partner next to him and the right goalkeeper behind him, he's going to be so big.

for Chelsea getting back to the top.

Dom Okus (43:52)
Yeah, I think the biggest thing for me with him is his composure. So like you said, all the things you mentioned, right? Like he's strong, big boy, good in the air, good left foot, can play. But it's the temperament for such a young age to be so relaxed, especially in a, let's call this Spader Spader, a pretty chaotic Chelsea team over the last couple of years. For him to have that temperament and composure when he has the ball, he's also a big lad, right? You typically don't see with these big lads who are strong, fast.

Jamil Roberts (44:10)
yeah, yeah.

Dom Okus (44:20)
like a Tyrone Minks, right? He's not the same builder like a Tyrone Minks. And Tyrone Minks is a little bit clumsy. He's a good player, but he's a little bit clumsy. He's just got that kind of like calming nature, put his foot on it, like let's control the game, let's play. So I completely agree with you. He's going to be in the England team for years to come. And I'm excited to see kind of what the future holds for him as he kind of continues to progress. Should we move on to our last and probably least team in the big six?

Jamil Roberts (44:42)
day.

You

Yeah, yeah Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham Hotspur, where do we begin? Because it's funny how you know, we've talked about United and the United are below in the league but the reaction to just Tottenham is just it's same old It's same old Tottenham and when will the penny drop? They have in my opinion Tottenham have everything

Dom Okus (44:52)
Hahaha!

Yep.

Jamil Roberts (45:13)
Everything to go and be a serious club. They've got the stadium. They've got the training ground They've got the manager I think and they have had the managers in the past five or six seasons as well They they've had a good core of players over that time as well to build off of When is the penny gonna drop Daniel Levy that you need to spend money and invest in this?

in this team, not in this football club because you've done it in terms of the stadium, you know, it's immaculate, it's one of the best arenas to watch football in the world, it's a state of the art training ground, but when is the penny gonna drop that you need to spend money on this team to- because you're so close, it's- I think- I don't think he realises how close Tottenham are to turning the corner to being serious. The time to do it-

was when Pochettino got them to a Champions League final. That was the time to do it, to turn the screw, right? To spend money on that squad and get them over the edge, and he didn't. And now Tottenham have regressed back to what they were back under the, you know, the Harry Redknapp days, where they're just gonna be happy to get into the top four, and they're buzzing with it. When is he gonna learn? You look at all these chairman's up and down the league that invest in you. We just talked about Chelsea, right? Like, everyone makes fun of how many players they've bought, but that's a serious, ambitious club.

When is the penny gonna drop for Tottenham? I don't know mate.

Dom Okus (46:35)
Don't forget Everwill mate, I'll be honest with you, I don't want to speak for him because I don't know him, but I think Daniel Levy is okay with Spurs just being this team that occasionally gets into the top four, is floating around the top six, because I think in his mind from a business perspective, Daniel Levy is a businessman, and from a business perspective, it's a lot of risk attached with throwing a lot of money at players who might not get you the returned investment. I don't think he believes that if he goes for it, they can actually win. They can actually...

win a Champions League, they can actually win a Premier League. And so the money that you get back from that would make sense. But if you don't, you're at a loss. Most Premier League clubs run at a loss, right? He doesn't want Tottenham to be that team. And so he's running them super efficiently. He's way more focused on getting Beyonce and all these other folks to perform at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the NFL, the MLB and all of that stuff than he is with them winning on the pitch. And I think a sign of that was him letting Harry Kane go to Bayern Munich.

is like, this is the best player, best striker in the world, one of the best players in the Premier League, one of the best players in the world. And you've just let him go to Bayern Munich when you could have given him a new contract, backed the team and said, no, like we've got you. We're not that far off of it. So I also though, looking at the way Tottenham play, I'm not sure Andrzej the manager because he doesn't seem to want to adapt.

to things not working. Mate, it don't work. Change it, please.

Jamil Roberts (48:06)
Bro, bro,

like there's a reason why all the pundits and all of us neutrals when we watch Tottenham we go, they're great to watch, they? Because you know that there's gonna be seven goals in the fucking game. Do you know what mean? And, and like you, I'm sorry, like it's brilliant. You can win the Scottish Prem doing that and no disrespect to the Scottish Premier League at all. You can win the Scottish Prem by doing that, by just outscoring your opponents, right? And maybe in the days of old.

Dom Okus (48:15)
Yeah. Literally, maybe literally bro.

Jamil Roberts (48:36)
You could say, well, you score four, we'll score five. That doesn't work anymore. It's just not, it doesn't, it's not gonna fly in this era of the Premier League. And like you said, you've got, they've got a manager there who is, he's clearly is unwilling to change the way that he's gonna set his team up. And that's why, okay, they might go away to City when they, they, they battered City the other day away at the Etihad. They might get results like that. And those are brilliant away days for Spurs fans that they'll never forget. But then,

They'll come back to Earth when, say, a... I don't know, no disrespect to a Southampton, will turn up to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and maybe nick a point because they've been so open and they nick a point, they can nick an early goal from a set piece and then they sit back. Do you know what mean? That isn't the way that you win a title and I know Andrzej's given it the big in the other day being like, you know, I win titles in my third, second, third season. I can't remember exactly what the quote was.

But you're not gonna win the Premier League. You're probably not gonna get in the Champions League. So like, you're betting now he's basically stuck his neck on the line for a Carling Cup, for a League Cup, sorry. You know, I know they're begging for a trophy, but come on, like that's not the ambition that you wanna hear from a manager, surely.

Dom Okus (49:38)
No. Nope.

cup. Yep. Yeah. Yeah, I think

you

Not at all. And I think I went to the Liverpool, I think I said in another episode, I went to the Liverpool Spurs game over Christmas. And I think it's just a bit embarrassing that you want to go toe to toe with Liverpool and you're nowhere near as good as them. And the game's so open and it's just like, Liverpool are just like, you want to go toe to toe with us? All we'll score six, you score three, game done. Cheers, thanks for coming. I'm like, what? It's just a little bit childish. One thing I do want to say though, because I don't think we've spoken about the players, I think...

Jamil Roberts (50:11)
Yeah, it's naive. It's naive, innit?

You

It's baffling, innit?

Dom Okus (50:29)
His son, unfortunately, is under the decline now. He's been a great servant to the Premier League, he's been a great servant to the club, but like, great footballer, but I think he's lost a yard of pace and isn't just where he was a couple of seasons ago, understandably. I think Dominic Selanke's actually gone in and done pretty well. I think, yeah.

Jamil Roberts (50:36)
Unbelievable footballer.

done a lot better than I thought he would do as well.

I don't think he's the guy for Tottenham to take him out, but he's done a lot better than I thought he would. I'll be real, I didn't think he would make that jump to a bigger club. that was his level, know, mid-table Premier League, which again, no disrespect to that level, unbelievable. But...

Dom Okus (50:54)
depth.

Yeah, please come on.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

But I think I'm going to say something probably unpopular here. But in Ange Postecoglou's system, I don't actually think Madison fits. The reason I say that is because he wants to play this run and gun football. Madison ain't got legs. Baller, by the way, not taking any of it away from him. Ball at his feet, creating set pieces, super tekky.

Jamil Roberts (51:30)
you

Dom Okus (51:33)
unbelievable but if he wants to play this run and gun up and down basically tennis basketball style game it doesn't suit Madison because he's not like a runner he's not an up and down the pitch cover loads of ground and so you're going to lose that battle and so and also Madison wants to operate off the left basically which is where Sun is so they're both I saw it in the Liverpool game they're both just standing within five yards of each other off the left I'm like what is this? so

Jamil Roberts (52:00)
Yeah,

yeah, it pain it. Do you know what? I haven't really considered that as like a an opinion, but it really pains me to agree with you because I think James Madison is an unbelievable footballer. But but I do agree with you. think if you put James Madison in Man City right now, he would he change something. I mean, I think he'd give him a spark. If you put James Madison in Arsenal, I think he gives you a spark.

Dom Okus (52:01)
Might be a bit unpopular but...

100 % bro.

Yeah, bro.

Jamil Roberts (52:31)
But, but the way that Tottenham are gonna play, I do agree, I don't think he's the guy.

Dom Okus (52:36)
It doesn't suit the way he plays. Like you want me to just run around, rat around the pitch and like the ball goes forward super fast and goes back super fast and I'm just running all over the place. That's not James Maddison's game. Give it to me and let me dictate stuff. yeah. technique.

Jamil Roberts (52:41)
Yeah, he's not a rat. He's not a rat.

He's beautiful. He's a beautiful footballer. He's one of them players that

you pay to watch players like him. And if you're asking him to play basketball, then it's not going to work.

Dom Okus (52:59)
It's not gonna work. A couple more players I to mention I think I've done well. Van de Ven, I think he's done well when he's played. Rapid. Absolutely rapid. Right, yeah, he's been good. And I actually think Judd Spence has been pretty good as well when he's played, which has surprised me.

Jamil Roberts (53:07)
when he's fit.

Yeah, ridiculous.

Yeah, do you know what?

I'm happy that he's done well since he's come back from his loan and I'm actually gonna, it's funny you bring that up, I'm actually gonna quote my friend Ben Purrington, he's a down at Exeter. So when Ben was out, I can't remember if it was at Charlton or Rovereham, but played against Spence when he was at, when he was in a champ with Forrest. And it was when he got his move to Tottenham and Ben told me...

Dom Okus (53:29)
Mm-hmm.

Yeah. Yeah.

Jamil Roberts (53:42)
that he was the hardest player he's ever faced in his life. So Spence played right wing back in that game and Ben was playing at left back and he said he was the hard, like, I couldn't beat him, it was impossible, he was so quick, he was so good with the ball, I couldn't get near him, he was the best player I've ever, like, directly played against. So I've always kind of had that in the back of my head, like, and Ben's sick, by the way, like, you know, sick, sick, sick player.

Dom Okus (53:47)
Wow.

Well.

Yeah.

No.

Jamil Roberts (54:09)
So I've always had that in the back of my head going like, well, like if Ben's given that high praise and he's played against some good players in his time, you know, okay, yeah, he must be something. And then like, you know, you see he's sort of been on the cusp, but yeah, no, he's definitely someone who's looking like he's kicking on at least this season.

Dom Okus (54:15)
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yeah,

100%, 100%. And the last thing I want to do, but just before we wrap up, is give a shout out to a few players that I think have done well this season. think Isak has been firing this season. He looks really, really good. Anthony... Yeah, I was going to say him next. Anthony Gordon looks to be playing really well as well. Bournemouth, Stemenio at Bournemouth has been on...

Jamil Roberts (54:39)
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah to stay on Newcastle. I'm just gonna go with Gordon

Dom Okus (54:56)
Quiet this year, what a player. Yes.

Jamil Roberts (54:59)
I'll just chime in there a second because obviously I'm from I'm from the southwest right so I got a lot of friends at Bristol City fans and they are bitter that Semenyo is firing because by all accounts this was not the same Semenyo that played for Bristol City

Dom Okus (55:03)
Yeah.

Buh.

Hahaha!

Right?

Jamil Roberts (55:20)
But no he's been taught he's been taught

Dom Okus (55:20)
That is so funny. That is so funny. And then, and then I think we've got a shout out at Nottingham Forest as well. I think Chris Wood's been great. I think Ola Eina, sent her back, it, Milinovich? If that's... Milinkovic, been great. Yeah. yeah. Yeah. All of them. Yeah.

Jamil Roberts (55:28)
The whole team the whole team

Melenkovich, Marillo, Hudson Adoi, Gibbs White, Alanga, Wood, all of them. All of them deserve a shout out. That team and the

gaffer as well, the way that they recruited, got that team together, that's an exciting team. I enjoy watching Not in a Forest.

Dom Okus (55:48)
Yeah, yeah,

yeah, yeah, yeah, 100 % the one. Anyone else I'd give a shout out to? Anthony Robertson at Fulham.

Jamil Roberts (56:00)
Hang on top as well Brian and Bwemo

Dom Okus (56:01)
Go on. Yeah.

mate. mate. He surprises me every time I see him, you know? Because he's just got a bit. You know what mean? Like, he's just got a bit.

Jamil Roberts (56:13)
They

like and he knows it as well You know how it is some of these French ballers like they they don't they a bit nonchalant when they walk around the pitch right? They just know they're sick. He knows he's sick, but he's doing it and fair play to him I want it to continue because he's a very good player We'll we'll get a move 100 %

Dom Okus (56:16)
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah, no, I agree.

Yeah, no, I 100 % agree. 100 % agree. Now that's been good though, man. That was a good discussion and I liked a little bit of change of pace here. I hope the Backstik kind of supporters got an opportunity to see a little bit of a different side of us. See us kind of break down some Premier League stuff. So if you made it this far, we really appreciate you listening and please subscribe, like, follow at the Backstik.

on all platforms, know, we're on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, all the usual places, you'll see us there. So we really appreciate you. We're starting to build some momentum with this and we just hope you like liking this new content. Jam, any last words?

Jamil Roberts (57:15)
Nah, nah, just let us know in the comments everyone, you know, if you want us to cover a different topic or maybe deep dive into another team or, you know, a certain subject, just let us know in the comments and the DMs, you know, and we'll get it done.

Dom Okus (57:29)
Perfect, perfect. Well from Don, from Jan, thank you for listening and we'll see you next time. Peace.