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MidSeason 25/26 Review Part 1

Season 2 Episode 15

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Jerrell

Episode 60. Let's go Football Fellows.

Christian

back. Welcome

Jerrell

We

Christian

Christmas, new Year's, Hanukkah, all

Jerrell

Boxing Day.

Christian

to everybody out there. Did you say Oxygen Day?

Jerrell

Boxing Day.

Christian

Okay, that makes more

Jerrell

Yeah.

Christian

day.

Jerrell

Yeah. We've been gone for a while, we gotta take time for ourselves. We love you guys, but, but family's important.

Christian

love us.

Jerrell

Yeah. It is. What's today's date? January 8th, 2026. Today is Thursday and I am, Darrell Christian is here.

Christian

What's up?

Jerrell

is somewhere on a

Christian

the

Jerrell

black diamond mountain. Just shredding on a snowboard somewhere. Yeah. So we'll be back back next week. And how you been Christian?

Christian

I've been good.

Jerrell

Yeah.

Christian

I've had the flu.

Jerrell

Oh no,

Christian

the

Jerrell

it's going around.

Christian

the cough for a very long time. That flu's crazy man. Not a good time. Did you end up getting the flu? Not right.

Jerrell

I got sick for a couple days. And then, I fought it off and I was better. I feel like I get sick more now'cause my fiance works in the hospital a lot of that comes home. So

Christian

So it's her fault.

Jerrell

I didn't say that it's the German's fault.

Christian

Yeah.

Jerrell

We're gonna do something a little bit different. We missed probably four match match weeks.

Christian

Before, before we head into

Jerrell

sure.

Christian

shout out. Today is my dad's birthday

Jerrell

happy birthday to your dad.

Christian

birthday dad. He's just up there in the sixties relaxing

Jerrell

You,

Christian

today,

Jerrell

you going down this weekend?

Christian

on their

Jerrell

You

Christian

What's up?

Jerrell

going down this weekend?

Christian

No, I'm going down next weekend.'Cause we got. My parents tickets to go visit my sister in Atlanta,

Jerrell

Nice.

Christian

be going down south to take care of the puppies

Jerrell

Cool.

Christian

dogs.

Jerrell

Oh no. Them old dogs, they still got that dog in them.

Christian

Hell yeah. I love my own dogs.

Jerrell

So this podcast is gonna be a little bit different. Like I said, we missed four match weeks and we also hit the halfway point. So I wanna go through each team alphabetical order. I could have had the, I could have had everybody guess what order we're in, but go through each teams and just talk about where they're at, what our expectations are, were for them. Are they beating their expectations? Are they letting us down? What do we expect for them going forward? So I think.

Christian

chip, a chip.

Jerrell

A chip,

Christian

Only a chip.

Jerrell

speaking of a chip. Without further, further ado, we'll start with Arsenal, who is top of the table in the Premier League, top of the table, in the Champions League, and just so happens to be first in alphabetical order. Arsenal's got the got the tr, got the trouble.

Christian

Yeah, we're we're, we're doing so good. We're doing so good. And nothing bad can happen

Jerrell

Yeah, so super impressed with, with Arsenal. Me personally, I know coming into the season I was like, all right, the team is here. We've been asking for a nine for a couple years now. We got that res hasn't panned out in the way we want to, but I still think he's very impactful on these games. I think the biggest point for Arsenal, this campaign so far has been strength of depth. We've had a lot of injuries on the squad and players are coming up and, and filling those spots and keeping arsenal competitive. I feel like a lot of those games last year were surrendering leads and things of that nature. You could have spoken to the, to the depth and not having players available. Definitely, definitely not an issue this year.

Christian

Yeah, we definitely had an amazing transfer window. We brought in a lot of good pieces. ZBA Mindi has been influential as it has had some, has added like new dimension to the team. Incap has offered some much needed relief at the at the defense in case any injury crisis is in the back of the line. on the flip side, like you mentioned, Yoko hasn't handout as much as we wanted him to. verdict's still allowed to, to see if Ma Wicke was worth the$7.4 million that we paid for

Jerrell

7.4, that's what it was? Or is it 74?

Christian

$70.4

Jerrell

Oh, 70.4. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Christian

Nor guard hasn't really been playing that much, but we do have depth and it's, it's, it's, it's great. I don't have regrets on any of the summer signings that we have. A lot of mouths to feed. A lot of good names, a lot of players that play very well. We're just fighting for minutes.

Jerrell

Yeah, and they're gonna get that,

Christian

we.

Jerrell

they're gonna get that rotation coming up too,

Christian

as we get busier, busier moments here. But other than that, yeah, arsenal, you can't really, you can't really grade them anything under an a. They've, they've been sensational. A small concern. As far as goal scoring capabilities, we

Jerrell

For sure.

Christian

I think there was a moment we had 15 per 15 goals and 16 appearances. That's not what we really want to see. We definitely need to see more. Going forward.

Jerrell

Yeah. I think another concern with Arsenal whenever they play, like the Power Six teams, they, there's a hesitance about them. I feel like I don't wanna get too much into the games that we have missed, but, Liverpool today was kind. Reminded me of that, where it's just everyone else can score on Liverpool. Why can't Arsenal score on Liverpool? They haven't been able to, their only Goalless games are both to Liverpool this season. So it's just kind of like, and you see it with Man City, you see it with Chelsea. Like even the Chelsea game, Chelsea got the red card, I believe, and it's still was a draw. When it comes to the Power Six teams, there's way, it's way too conservative and they flex more against the teams. They know they can be. It's just, it's just something I've noticed. But it, it, it could matter down the road,

Christian

not just against like top flight teams. There's been like some concerns with Arsenal where you like the game against Watford. What was that like? Three goals all scored by Watford. Our two goals were own goals

Jerrell

wolves.

Christian

it was, it brings back concerns to last year where we just were playing down to the team that we were, that we were playing against. But

Jerrell

Okay.

Christian

definitely need more goals. We need to do better. But so far, six points clear. Thankfully, this past match week, the top four teams all drew.

Jerrell

Yep.

Christian

not, didn't affect us too much.

Jerrell

Yeah, arsenal has never won the league coming out of the Christmas break, I think when they've led in the past couple years. So that's something to watch. It's not locked up yet. Some teams are slipping, but yeah. The arsenal definitely in the best, best chance, this campaign as opposed to any other season, I feel like, moving on to Aston Villa, A team that was kinda like struggling very early on, I believe like their first six games or so. We were wondering where the goals were gonna start coming. We knew that they were capable of scoring goals they just weren't showing up. And then Aston Villa went on a monstrous run before the Christmas break and have found themselves third on the table right now.

Christian

Yeah. Like you said, starting the season, you, you would be like, what the hell happened to Aston Villa? They, it had a really, really, really start. They had not, they didn't really make a lot of splash plays in the summer window. And the small sign, or the few sign-ins that they did have, have really, really, really small impact. I can't think of really any, any new signing this year that has really integrated stuff into the, the main squad. Jay Sancho hasn't been able to repeat like the same magic that Rasper had last year, last season. Lindelof has looked a little slow when he's been put into the lineup. And oh, interesting situation. They have, I think they got Harvey Elliot on loan from liver pool,

Jerrell

Sounds.

Christian

they're just refusing to play him just so they don't have to pretty much buy him out at the end. So like a lot of signings, they, they made a few signings on them, have been able to capitalize, but. They Emery, shout out to un Marie. He somehow was able to get them all rolling and, and now they're sitting third at the table.

Jerrell

Yeah, and just a little tidbit for us and Villa. The villains are unbeaten. Were unbeaten at home in 2025.

Christian

Oh,

Jerrell

I think they only dropped one ga I think they only dropped one game, if not, but unbeaten, like Villa Park is a, is a fortress. And we saw that a couple times with it was gonna be a draw with Arsenal. And they eed out that goal, like literally the last kick of the game. They've gone up against quality teams at home. It's the whole calendar year. It's like they, they can't lose. They can't lose a Villa Park. So Asheville definitely has that going for them as well expectations for them on the back half of the season.

Christian

I think if they continue playing the same way, they, they'll, they're good to finish. Top six. Top six, They might be able to get a a, a good European championship birthday.

Jerrell

Okay. Not, not returning to the Champions League. I think it's at four right now. I think later on down the road they'll allocate an, an additional spot. It's based on like coefficients or whatever in Champions League. But we're not looking at a top four s in Villa. We're gonna see a, a slight slide.

Christian

It's hard to justify the run they're going. You can't, it's hard to make, not justify

Jerrell

I

Christian

You can justify it, but it's hard to maintain

Jerrell

right.

Christian

of just like nonstop goals.

Jerrell

Yeah, I think they finished sixth, seventh last year, so we'll probably see them sitting around the same area then. Alrighty.

Christian

gonna go with

Jerrell

Five,

Christian

I, I'll do top five. I'll do

Jerrell

top five. Okay.

Christian

Top five?

Jerrell

Bournemouth another. Bournemouth is his opposite story of, of Villa. They a huge start picked up some good good amount of points at the beginning of their season. And then, they ate Thanksgiving, Turkey. I know they don't do that in, in London, but, or in the uk, but they've been sluggish surprising result recently beating Tottenham. I don't know how surprising, but like you'd think that was gonna be a draw. I know they're leaky. Bourmouth trying to find their way back. They sitting fifteens on the table right now. Far cry from the first quarter of the season when they were like flirting with the top five.

Christian

Yeah, they finished October in second place. And then, yeah, just their defensive struggles have really hit them hard. They currently sit at a negative six goal differential. Now we, we, we, excuse me. We, we deemed them the sizzling cherries for a

Jerrell

cherries. Yeah,

Christian

were really, really well. But,

Jerrell

I heard chilling cherries too. I was like, I like that. I wanna steal that one.

Christian

chilling cherries,

Jerrell

Yeah. They're not chilling right now, but.

Christian

they're definitely not chilling right now. Yeah, not much to say about them. Like they, they can't hold their own against any, any team, like they play well against any team. It's not, there's never been, there hasn't been a game that Bern with has played where I'm just like, ah, they're gonna lose this game. They're always in the picture. They're always gonna be able to, they have talent. They're good enough to eek out wins here and there. They just gotta work on that defense.

Jerrell

Yeah. I think this might get a little bit worse for Bourmouth because Simon Antonio Simon is, is, might be on his way to Man City. I think he had his medical today. His parting gift, it was also his birthday yesterday. His parting gift was a winning goal against top them. At, at of. At home and I do believe he, they said he had a medical and yep. It's official man. City signs Anthony Simon for 62 and a half million pounds. So

Christian

Two. That's tough.

Jerrell

So what does Bourmouth do with that money? We don't know. It is the winter window. I don't, Will's not here to tell us who's out there

Christian

absolutely not.

Jerrell

I don't know how you spend that money in the winter. We might have to wait till summer, but it, it might not get better for board myths.

Christian

Pout has a bright side and they have 19-year-old Groupie Jr. I think they got him in the last summer window. He's shown flashes. He there. Terry's has something to be optimistic about with the, with the young

Jerrell

So, okay, so, um, their 15th right now, do you think they, their goal at the start of the season was finish top half? Is that still realistic?

Christian

Who's probably middle.

Jerrell

Middle of the table just outside.

Christian

yeah. 11 through 15 are separated by three points and they play 11. Coming up next, which is Bryan. They can easily find themselves go jumping from 15 to middle of the table like 12 nine. I see that happen. Let's look who's above them. We have ham. has slid to 10th. Brian, I've, I've never been really been convinced, Brian, maybe,'cause I don't really watch too many, too much of their games,

Jerrell

Yeah. Unfamiliar.

Christian

seemed like a, yeah, I'm, I'm familiar with their game.

Jerrell

Yeah. Um, it'll be tough. I feel like. Yeah. I mean, 26 points, you're right. Anybody can do it. Uh, when we get to our next team, it's kind of like a case in point where like if you get a good run, a games going, like anything can happen. Uh, but yeah, if, if born catch fire they, they could find themselves in the top half. I'm not ready to, to count them out. I think they're pretty safe. From the bottom three currently 12 points ahead, and those bottom teams are, they're flailing down there. So I don't, I really don't think Bournemouth is, is one of those teams either I'll put'em maybe two po positions higher than what they currently are. I won't give'em more than that.

Christian

Ooh, don't believe in Dutch sizzling cherries.

Jerrell

No, not really. Not when Brentford Brentford made me so happy these past couple weeks. Biggest thing coming into this season, a lot of people wrote off Brentford. You lose Thomas Frank the manager who brought you all the way up from Champion. I don't, I think Thomas Frank might have been there from League one, but definitely championship all the way into Premier League. Sticks around for a while. Makes Brentford a mainstay in the Premier League. He leaves, he goes to Tottenham. You bring in unproven Keith Andrews. And the question marks are just like, this man has no experience. Brentford, we don't know what they're doing. They're gonna be fighting in the relegation spot. Brentford currently sits fifth right now. That that is a Europa League spot. And they've had a great run of games recently. And Thiago is, is second in scoring in the Premier League right now. He did a, he had a hat trick. Two games ago, he had a brace yesterday. B Brentford are doing a lot of things right. And I think that's like a huge credit to their recruiting and the culture. And I know they're like a analytics club too. These smaller clubs tend to lean analytics. But B Brentford doing a lot. And I honestly truly like defying expectations this season.

Christian

Yeah, and I'd say that's more recent than anything because wasn't Bradford sitting like mid table

Jerrell

They were important to this spot.

Christian

ago.

Jerrell

Yeah.

Christian

They had a, a pretty tough run. Obviously losing the arsenal they lost to Tottenham. They drew against leads and a tough game against Man City. But then the last five runs, they got four, four wins outta five possible time. The only one they couldn't beat was Tottenham. yeah, they've silently climbed their way up to fifth place. Especially after missing not just their, their coach, they lost Bueno. They lost one. We saw they lost Christian nor Guard to Arsenal, which I'm pretty sure nor guard. Misses the minutes

Jerrell

Here.

Christian

But the, the, there are some nice signings. There's some nice signings over the summer winter that have been able to, to get through, get some minutes and make a difference. But it's worked out.

Jerrell

Yeah, this is a run too without ota, which is their signing that they got from. B bourmouth over the summer. Actually, he's playing in Nacon. I don't know when he comes back. So they're, they're down a Stryker as well in these, in these runners games. And they've been relying on, I thiago their set pieces, not so much corners, but their throwings coyote just chucking that ball from halfway across the field. Brighton is, they're playing to their strengths and I don't think teams are, teams should probably start taking a little bit more seriously because they can get you. They're capable of it.

Christian

Yeah. Do you think it's the the 50 mil they paid for at was, has been justified so far? He only has three Premier League goals. Igor. Igor has been playing.

Jerrell

He has the most goal. You or Thiago has the most goals by a Brazilian player in the Premier League this season. It's incredible. Ota it's, it's hard to say. You spend a lot of money on him. He's been unavailable for. Literally since the care about Cup Run when they played Man City. So how many games has that been? That's been like five games. So when he comes back, maybe he can, slot back in and maybe score more goals. I, I think, I think two of his goals are penalties as well. It's hard to say. I, I don't think he found his spot. I just think the rest of the club is just meshed very well. Yeah. Then, signings like Jordan Henderson as well to, to shore up the, the backfield. I just think Brent Brentford is, they're not those, they're not like other clubs I've seen where you get to the Premier League, you shell out a bunch of money on a bunch of names and then nothing pans out. They're, they're very methodical with how they approach their seasons. And that's, that's what's fun to watch about them too, I think.

Christian

Let's see. We got Brighton up next. Bryan's been I, like I mentioned earlier, I don't really see, their games too much. I do review some other games, but I, I'm not here watching many Brighton games, but, they had a, had a really tough end to last year. They had a five game stretch where they only won one straw, drew three times, lost one, but it's still wide open for them. They currently sit 11th on the table with 29 points, six plays only has 32 points. So it's a very congested table. When they, when they do get going, they do play a nice football and they're, it's far to see how, how far they can take it.

Jerrell

Yeah, definitely. Brian, one of those teams similar to Brentford, similar to Bourmouth, they rely heavily on like their analytics and their recruitment to stay competitive. They've, been in, I how long have they been in the Premier League? Probably like four years now.

Christian

Brian, I believe so.

Jerrell

Yeah. So they're, they're trying to get their footing and they're trying. To, remain competitive. And I think they've done a good job at doing that. Denny Welbeck, he is scoring goals. I think he's still top five and, and goals scored for this campaign. So bright Brighton, they have good games, they have bad games. They're, they're very middle of the pack team. And they're right where they need to be, to be honest, as we've. I keep alluding to like the points between like sixth all the way you can argue all the way down to 14th. It's like you get two games going right? And you're like, you're looking, you're looking really good. And I think Brighton is in a good spot. I think they can finish top half. They've eighth last year. I think they can, I think they can still push that.

Christian

Where do you think they can go?

Jerrell

I think they can, they probably would get back to eighth. They might be ninth, but if they can get back to where they were, like, that's pro it's not like progress as where like they're not moving up the table, but it's like it keeps you in, it keeps you in the Premier League?

Christian

I don't see a world where they get close to relegation anytime soon.

Jerrell

No. Okay.

Christian

didn't make too many splash signings. I think there's only one, been one player that has been able to consistently eek out minutes. De Cooper, Cooper has been the only one that's been able to eek out. so they, they minutes. So they do have a lot of growing to do, and, but stuck. They're still sticking with like a, a familiar

Jerrell

Definitely.

Christian

I believe they have a lot of money that they can burn. So maybe this winter window, they can see some, some new signings.

Jerrell

Yeah, I, they, they'll make some sightings, but I don't see Brighton making any big splash sightings. They're, they're definitely gonna pick, pick players who fit their system. One thing about Brighton that I do is, they take advantage of those opportunities when those quote unquote power six teams, those top flight, those top half teams, when they start to struggle, Brighton. Does make sure they put themselves in a position to where like they can still compete with those teams and, and be better than those teams when, when they're down. Brighton can take advantage of that. So our first Ascension team Burn Lee of started the season. You you get promoted, you wanna avoid your allegation. That's like your only goal. Everything else is just monopoly money. I'm barely not doing so well.

Christian

They won their first game out, the out the out the box.

Jerrell

Yeah,

Christian

Was it their first or second game? I remember, I think all three teams were able to get a win

Jerrell

by the second week. Yeah, they definitely won. I forgot who they played. They might have played leads, but yeah, no, I mean they did get that win, but it's, it's gone pretty south pretty fast for Ley since then.

Christian

Not doing too hot. They have the, they have a pretty bad third worst goal differential. They're just not able to score. They only have 22 goals for the, for the year 41 goals against. It, it's tough. They're, they've only been able to eek out 13, 13 points, 21 games in last five games. They drew three times, lost twice. They're three games out of the relegation zone, so it, it's gonna be tough for them.

Jerrell

Yeah. So it, it, it is super tough. Does it get better for Burnley are like they, what they have put out for the first, first half of the season, it's not really a recipe for success. I, I don't see them, I don't see'em making out in this bubble despite, like wolves in Westham and Nottingham all struggling, like these, these, these three clubs have been in the league for a couple years now and you're. Two buddies that got promoted as well and leads in suland, they took advantage of that, has hasn't been able put together, do you see? Getting out of the bottom three.

Christian

No, not at all. It's unfortunate because they, they did make splash signings. They did try their best to get better. Biggest signing I can think of is Kyle Walker plays for Bern now. He hasn't really panned out that much. There's, they have a few players like Kyle Walker, Armando Bruja, and Marcus Edward. might have to sacrifice during, in the summer window if they don't, if they can't get out of the relegation because I can't imagine someone like Kyle Walker playing

Jerrell

no, definitely not.

Christian

outside

Jerrell

Even at 35, he'll probably just be like, no, somebody else will take me.

Christian

Yeah. And it's been weird'cause you got Jayden Anthony, who started really red hot for Burnley. He scored four goals in the CI in five matches. And, but somehow he just hasn't been able to really capitalize past that. Although he did get a, a goal against Man United when they played. Off menu,

Jerrell

Yeah, just super tough

Christian

see them

Jerrell

Burley. Being up every other year it feels like we'll see Ley and it looks like it's just gonna be another year where they, they have to go back down.

Christian

yeah.

Jerrell

Next up is, is Chelsea. And while we were gone, Chelsea fired their manager. Chelsea currently sits eighth on the table now. We've talked repeatedly about how co, how Chelsea can't be trusted, they're up and down and they can't find ways to find consistency despite winning Euro book Conference League, regardless of what you think of that trophy and winning club World Cup again, regardless of what you think of that trophy. So yeah, what's up with Chelsea?

Christian

Yeah, I'm looking at their form right now. It's horrible. Their last win came again. Is that Cardiff? Yeah, Cardiff. in the EFL Cup. And they were able to be Everton, the Premier League, but other than that, in their last nine games, they lost four times. Drew four times one, one and I'm sorry, in one two. And this is across all competitions. It's not what you'd expect from Chelsea. They are young team. They have a lot of good players. They just can't mesh. And it's, it's crazy to see how a team like Chelsea right now is currently. Mixed in with full a promoted team in Sunderland Bright, and it's, you expect them. We, I think we all did. We expected them to be top of the

Jerrell

We had them, we, we had them high. Yeah, we had them at least, I think top four. For Chelsea especially. I, I think we weighted their trophies a little bit higher than other people would. We thought, I think we thought that there was something building there after Chelsea has been kind of like, I don't wanna say abysmal, but as a power team, which you're not making the Champions league and you're, you go, your, your European experience is Europa conference. Like it's not great either.

Christian

Yeah.

Jerrell

Yeah. Chelsea is, and then with Mariska, right? That was, that's his name. Getting fired, honest. Honestly, because he's linked to Man City. Pep might be out during the summer at Man City and they were just like if you're not gonna stick around, there's no reason. And just, and just having you manage. Chelsea kind of hitting like a little bit of a reset button, a little bit weird. Maybe they got like a, a fired manager boost, but it, it doesn't look like it's panned out. They got, they got a, a red card against BOLO and lost three, two in that one very winnable game, in my opinion, and they find ways to beat themselves. It's, it's confusing.

Christian

They definitely got the names like s val. Their young signing has been really exciting to watch, but even him has only been able to contr contribute to just one goal and one assist so far. yeah. Chelsea's finding out that you can't just throw money at a problem and a

Jerrell

I don't think they're gonna learn that lesson.

Christian

Yeah. they're doing better than what they're, they're doing worse than what they were doing last year, I think last year around this time. I think they might have been around the same spot, maybe one or two spots ahead, it's,

Jerrell

Yeah, I think so. I think they did because they are champion, they are playing the Champions League this year, so they definitely were higher. Where, where are your expectations for Chelsea going forward? Do you think they stay where they're at or they they figure it out?

Christian

It's a congested table five, or, yeah, even five. Five through 11 are all separated to what, like four points. So there's a world where Chelsea just picks up the form and they can get championship. Champions League, once again,

Jerrell

Yeah, I,

Christian

tough. Now I don't know who their new coaches. Have they had been able to find a new coach? Is

Jerrell

I have an interim right now. Yeah. No, they did, they did hire a guy. I forgot his name. They were talking about it during the Fullham match. I have to get that. I have to get that. But the interim coach for Fullham, the new manager was in the, was in the stands.

Christian

Hmm. Gotcha. And he was like, ah, fuck

Jerrell

He's just no, disciplined. My

Christian

yeah.