MidSeason 25/26 Review Part 2

Technical difficulties, this is part 2 of the midseason review

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Transcript

Jerrell (2) 0:00

Crystal Palace.

Christian 0:03

Crystal Palace crystal Palace has been an interesting run. They've been able, I think just by December 7th, sorry, I'm getting my tabs up by December 7th, they were in the top four of the league and then they just had a really bad run the last five games. of like everybody.

Jerrell (2) 0:19

Yeah.

Christian 0:20

a lot of draws the last five games. But yeah, crystal Palace has only been made able, able to pick up two points in the last five games. Next game is against Sunderland, who's gonna be, they've been playing pretty well, so it's gonna be tough to see how Crystal Palace, continues. They're, they're currently in, I think,

Jerrell (2) 0:37

13. 13,

Christian 0:38

that they got? They, they didn't get Europa, but they got the one below

Jerrell (2) 0:41

you're up conference. Yep.

Christian 0:43

Yeah, they got the conference. But they, they've been playing well, just not the last five, five games.

Jerrell (2) 0:50

Yeah, they've fallen into a spot of average. They're currently 7, 7, 7. That was a theme for Crystal Palace last year, where they just didn't Excel, didn't. Shut the bed. No signings, Oliver Glasner, he might be leaving in the summer window. I think that was a big concern for him or if we're gonna win, if we're gonna compete here, I need players. I need money to be spent. I don't think that's what Chris Palus is trying to do. And I think there might be a disagreement between manager and and club.

Christian 1:18

Yeah,

Jerrell (2) 1:19

yeah.

Christian 1:20

so even their summer settings haven't really panned out. The only one that's really panned out is, I don't know why I give a Hispanic accent to everybody's name. Pino is the only one. Chris Pi has been able to play pretty well. He winger, he's been able to get a goal and an assist in 19 Premier League games. But like you said, they don't have pieces that the manager wants and they need to spend some money.

Jerrell (2) 1:45

Yeah. Either do it this window or, I, I, I don't know. It is a discussion more towards the end of the season but I don't think Crystal Palace is really gonna budge on anything. They're just gonna say Hey, mid table finishes is good for us. Let us just play in Europe and get that experience. So Everton Everton, brand new stadium plays pretty well in the brand new stadium. I think they lost the last one. Got Jack Reish in the off season. Everton playing better than they have in the past two years. I know they had point deductions before, but this is a team that is starting to flex a little bit. Trying, trying to stand up next to the more talked about club in versus side in, in Liverpool. Everton, Everton is there making noise.

Christian 2:28

De Moyers has been pretty well, has, has commanded the helm pretty well for this team. Everton, after being able to come back from their point deduction last season, or was it two seasons ago?

Jerrell (2) 2:38

Two seasons.

Christian 2:39

Time fucking flies. Holy shit. Yeah, they, everybody's survived that. And Everton's has been slowly been a they're they impressed? They, they play good football every once in a while. Jack Bresh looks like having fun again. Shout out to Jack Dresh. but yeah, Everton sitting there at the table. I think they're 12th right now. Yeah, I think they could definitely make a push for top 10.

Jerrell (2) 2:59

Yep. The table finished kind of their goal. I think they, they're going to float around there. They're not going down. Everton longest tenured top flight team. You would expect,

Christian 3:08

was one of the pop quiz questions from a while ago.

Jerrell (2) 3:11

yeah. You would expect, you know them to be more up there for as long as they've been around. But, in Liverpool's, in your same neighborhood, it's hard to, to convince people to play for the toffee. Full'em, cottagers Benford's Bid Rivals next to QPR. A fum is super weird and I can't, I can't sound unbiased when I talk about fum, but here they are, mid table, very up and down looking for an identity. Got a win against Chelsea yesterday. But fum, similar to like Everton and a couple of these teams, the goal is to exist in, in the Premier League, and they're doing that

Christian 3:56

fullham has been an impressive run. They're the only. Team outside of three in the top four that had not lost a game in the last five games. I think the off season was like a missed opportunity. They didn't really make any splash signings that would've probably helped. But yeah, very few signings went through the door for full. And, but despite that, they're, mid table. They're sitting where kinda where we expected them to sit around mid table top 10. Right now they're sitting in ninth place. But yeah they, they can make some splash.

Jerrell (2) 4:27

We'll see if full on has more consistent form going forward. But yeah, I, I just see'em finishing around this spot right here. Maybe they take advantage of, of an ailing man United, Chelsea. We know Tottenham is in the mud right now. These are the times to take advantage of those moments and, and you. Place yourself higher on the table. Lead United, they are above the allegation line. They struggled. They're un, they're under that line for a minute during the season. But they've, they've pushed themselves ahead. They're sitting 16th place, I believe, 16th above Nottingham Forest, and they have a healthy eight point lead above the line.

Christian 5:06

Yeah, leads United just pretty much all the other, recently promoted teams. They had one goal this season, and it was to avoid relegation and I think leads united, especially in their last, not, not this game that they, they lost, but they were, they were, they were on a sixth game on beaten streak, which is pretty impressive for a team that just got promoted. So I, I think honestly, despite them sitting towards the bottom of the table, I think you, you have to give'em an a. They, they, they're avoiding relegation. That was their goal this season. It's never a goal to fight for a champion spot, but they're doing well and it looks like they're gonna stick around for at least another season.

Jerrell (2) 5:43

Yeah, lead United China, return to former Go Glory. You don't get there getting demoted very quickly. They're doing, they're doing the right things so far. We'll see how the rest of the season pans out for them. Liverpool go

Christian 5:55

Quick,

Jerrell (2) 5:55

ahead.

Christian 5:55

to, to leads. They were able to sign the Dom Calvert Lewin, who's been playing great for them, so definitely a standout. Him and Gabriel Goodmanson has have played really well. They did really good in the, in the summer signings, and that's helped them avoid relegations. So shout out to them.

Jerrell (2) 6:12

Yep. Leads to making all the right moves Liverpool, who we thought were making right moves and were about to become a super team. Not looking so super. They are fourth place in the Premier League, but I think on closer inspection there's a little bit of trouble with Liverpool.

Christian 6:31

Yeah, Liverpool, although they do sit forth right now, it, I. From what you expect from Liverpool. You don't, you can't give'em anything less more than a, like a B I'd probably give'em like a c plus just because they've been able to stick around in the top four, but they're not the Liverpool that we, we expect them to be. Their, their defense has been a little, little bit leaky. They've led in 28 goals, which is not that good. Usually they have a pretty solid defense. Compared to Arsenal. Arsenal only let 14 liver let eight up 28. Gold differential just for, which is crazy to think about considering the fact that they spent so much money on a lot of players like Esoc. I, I haven't heard anything from Esoc. He's, he hasn't been making a,

Jerrell (2) 7:15

He, he did get hurt

Christian 7:17

unfit all season.

Jerrell (2) 7:18

and then he got hurt when he came back.

Christian 7:21

Yeah. The middle of the field for Liverpool is just a lot of, pretty much tens. They have. They have a whole bunch of tents, nothing really back there to really defend in the open field. So they lose a lot of battles in the middle of the field. So it's, it, it's tough. It's tough to give them a high grade considering the fact that they went out, spent a lot of money on players and the players really haven't been able to

Jerrell (2) 7:42

Teams below Liverpool that have a higher goal differential Brentford. Newcastle and Chelsea Liverpool has a plus four. They also have allowed just as many goals as brentford at 28. So need to find answers. I know I've been a little bit more easy going on Liverpool this season because they did win the league last year, but I'm just like. You did spend a lot of money. You are expecting greater results. And if anything, you all should just be leading in the, in the goal scoring category, but that's not happening either

Christian 8:15

Yeah.

Jerrell (2) 8:16

all right, we'll get the man. The Tale of two Manchester, Manchester City's second place. They got a couple draws recently, they're right back in the swing of things. Challenging for the title. That was the goal. For man city, if not outright and winning it. Are you saying, do you think that they're succeeding because I do.

Christian 8:34

Yeah, man, city, they're always what, top three team. They're only six points away from Arsenal, so it's not nec, it's not like a decided game yet. They Form, they, they've picked up three draws in the off season. They still have the Android leading the league in goals, so you can never come man city out. They had a great offseason in the suburb picking up people like re reindeers res. He's been able to settle well. He is had seven goal involvements in, in 19 games. Donor Ram has been pretty exceptional. It is donor ram. Yeah, they, they've made some pretty huge impacts. Shike can't, can't forget about Shike, years old. He's just been dazzling and forth both his legs. He's just an amazing player. So they definitely got the pieces. They made amazing sign-ins, and they're, they're on a, on a good run. So man city, expect them to finish top two, not one.

Jerrell (2) 9:25

Top two, not one. Yeah. The issue started when they started letting other players score at Man City. The, the form broke down. They just need to funnel it all through the Android.

Christian 9:35

Yeah.

Jerrell (2) 9:36

needs to focus on passing. The Android focuses on shooting, and that's how they went games. But, but yeah. Manchester City, they, they're not going anywhere. Manchester United, on the other hand, firing Ruben Aerin and looking for new answers. Ruben Aerin had a chance to put, bring in his guys, make it all work together. Upper management said, we've seen enough, you are out. But Manchester United hasn't, hasn't really done much. They said seventh, they have 32 points. They're better. But I think the Red Devils want to see. A stronger performance week in and week out.

Christian 10:15

Absolutely, especially when you got players like Bruno for, he's, he's an amazing player and it, it, it's, tough to think that a team like Manu has not been able to win five straight in a very long time. Shout out to the guy that refuses to cut his

Jerrell (2) 10:29

The United Strand. He actually got it straightened recently.

Christian 10:32

I saw that for a show. He should not do that again. He looked like he was about as become an emo pop singer.

Jerrell (2) 10:40

Where are you?

Christian 10:42

Pretty much. I, I was think and tonight will be the night.

Jerrell (2) 10:47

Did I will draw for you

Christian 10:49

but yeah, man, you man they just not been able. They got top seven, I think last season. I, I don't remember where they were at this point in last season, but it,

Jerrell (2) 10:58

towards the bottom.

Christian 11:00

what, what's going on here? What's going on with man? You're supposed to be a top flight team and mean, you, you just leave a lot of questions on the table.

Jerrell (2) 11:08

Sometimes you just spend a lot of money. It just doesn't work. Look at Chelsea. Money does not buy championships. If that hasn't been proven by now, I don't know what will. Speaking of spending money or at least spending a lot of money to buy the team, new Castle, United. Got a lot of money for selling Esoc, but haven't done a lot with it and without bringing in reinforcements, there's still six on the table. They're still playing.

Christian 11:34

Yeah, I hate to keep going over it, but it's just, it's so congested. The middle of the table, they went from 13th to sixth place in one match day.

Jerrell (2) 11:44

that's true.

Christian 11:45

So it, it, it's tough. They definitely got money. They definitely got money to splash. They lost the esoc, but it looks like they're still hanging in there. Like you said, they're sitting seven,

Jerrell (2) 11:55

Six, eight.

Christian 11:56

on the table. They're definitely aiming for like a top seven, top six finish this time around the season. It's interesting. His replacement of Nick Volt mod he's done well. He's become an instant fan favorite for, for Newcastle, and it, it seems like they're, they're. a roll here.

Jerrell (2) 12:12

Newcastle playing strong. They're, they're, they're where they wanna be right now. Yes, it's congested, but would you rather be in a congested part 14th or would you rather be sick? So I think

Christian 12:22

I'd rather be six in that congested part with wolves. My next opponent.

Jerrell (2) 12:27

Nice. Yeah, create a buffer, not have four is hey, they're on the third manager. And now it's finally looking right. Sean Dice is in charge. I guess he's just brought into Hey, we just don't wanna be relegated at this point. The start of the season, Nottingham Forest, we had high prices for them, hoping for a top half finish. They definitely were like, Hey, we, you believe in us, we'll let you down. You don't believe in us, we're gonna excel. And that's, that's just the way of the, the tricky trees. And sitting 17th sitting towards the bottom. But they have upside, they have been getting results. Not super recently, but they've been getting some dubs.

Christian 13:08

yeah, the last five games, like they won their most recent game. Four losses before that. trying. Where the is it?

Jerrell (2) 13:16

Yeah. Where did they, where did they get that seven point lead over Westham.

Christian 13:20

Oh, there it is. Yeah, they, they were able to beat Westham, which was a big game.'cause

Jerrell (2) 13:24

there it is.

Christian 13:25

six point swing between 17 and 19th place, whoever ended up winning that game. So shout out to the four for, for being able to pull that off. And, it's tough. They were able to create a seven point buffer, so you know, it's still breathing down their necks. Keep, keep, keep at it.

Jerrell (2) 13:42

It's still an effort for, for us though, regardless. So it's,

Christian 13:47

have really nice jerseys, I would say.

Jerrell (2) 13:49

yeah. Nice, nice pin stripes. Sutherland biggest surprise of the season goal. Avoid rel relegation. I think they're, they're doing extremely well at that. I think the fact that they're unbeaten at home, the stadium of light is also huge.'cause they've already gone through every club once. They've, they had draws against Arsenal. They will, they always score at home. They always keep the game close. Sutherlin is my biggest surprise of the season.

Christian 14:17

Nah, with the support. Mexican Twitter man. Yeah, no, Sunland has, has had a great game. We saw it when they played against Arsenal. They, they play really well and it is not even just, they play really well for a just promoted team. They just, they just play really well. They've had great signings in the off season. Notably, they had Greenage Jaka come back and they, they brought Green Jack up back to the Premier League and even at 33, he, he's, he's playing He might be better than a younger version. We spent seven years at Arsenal here, I say, but granted, Jack is

Jerrell (2) 14:48

How dare you?

Christian 14:50

Yeah, Jack is definitely the heartbeat of that team, and he plays well. And you can see when he plays well, the rest of the team plays well. He makes everybody around him better.

Jerrell (2) 14:58

Definitely.

Christian 14:58

out to Sunderland. They have slipped. They were in the top five for some time, but after four draws and one loss, they're, they're struggling to find their form a little bit. Or can maintain their form a little bit. They're, can't score goals. They only have 21 goals for the season. Their defense is, defense isn't too bad. They've, they've let 22 goals go by, which I mean, Liverpool, Brentford, Newcastle, pretty much everybody above them except Man City, except Arsenal in Man City has allowed more goals.

Jerrell (2) 15:32

Yeah. Yeah, and that's my. My thing with Sutherland too is if they can just convert some of these draws into points, like we're not talking about 10th Place Sutherland, we're still talking about Sutherland in, in the top five. So hopefully they, they find their way, they've played every opponent once we're into the second round, Robin some of these games are going to have to go on the road, like they're gonna have to play Arsenal at the Emirates. I, I can't remember some of their other home matches against Power Six teams. They're gonna have to start finding ways to win. If their goal is to stay in the Premier League, hey, they're doing great. But I think like when you're sitting 10th, if you're your Sutherland, you might wanna start making that push for, for Europe appearance. Why not

Christian 16:13

That'd be a great story. That'd be a great story. Shout out.

Jerrell (2) 16:18

Tottenham? They went, they fired Pasta Coly, after he won his trophy in the second season, they went out and they got Thomas Frank, who. Can, can make things happen for clubs, but I think Tottenham might be too big for him. Tottenham is struggling this year. Rick Charleson is the king of pointless goals. Go ahead, Christian. Say it.

Christian 16:40

Yeah, there's shit. I'm just kidding. No, interesting because like you, pieces every once in a while and you're just like, nah, this is, they have a chance and they have pieces to be playing better than they want, but they're, they're just not good. They're just not good.

Jerrell (2) 16:57

Yeah. And they weren't, they weren't very good last year either. And they're down at 14th right now. Not gonna bring up congestion again, but it's not just, it's not a spot where you wanna be, like you're gonna move on from your manager. You don't want to be two spots, one spot higher than you were last season. Not if you're taught no, not when you're not, when your supporters are expecting wins and results, although they haven't earned it or deserved it. That's what the supporters expect. You can't, you can't be sitting, you can't be sitting 14 plays. You can't lose a game to a struggling board with three, two, even away. Like you can't win at home. So if you can't win at home, just make sure you get some points when you go on the road. So taught them is still struggles.

Christian 17:39

and it's unfortunate because they, they had a great off season in the summer. They were able to sign Chubby Simmons, which w everybody expected to just pretty much continue the same form that he had. But Cha Simmons has not been playing well for Liverpool. He picked up a red card, I'm sorry, for Tanem. He picked up a, a red card against Liverpool. He just hasn't, he one goal to assist I think is what he has so far. He just hasn't been pan out. All the goals are going to with Charleston and garbage

Jerrell (2) 18:08

Yeah, it's great. He celebrates them.

Christian 18:12

Yeah. It's unfortunate. They're, they, they had a good off season and none of them, those players have really been able to make a splash. To make a difference for them.

Jerrell (2) 18:20

Yeah, and they lost Brendan Johnson too. He, he got sold to Crystal Palace recently as well.

Christian 18:27

Oh

Jerrell (2) 18:27

I,

Christian 18:27

Brendan Johnson. Woo.

Jerrell (2) 18:29

yeah. I think it's fair that we can combine the last two in Westham and Wolves. Funny enough, 19 20th respectively. Westham Wolves are playing better. Westham might be the worst team in the Premier League.

Christian 18:44

Yeah, west Ham's tough. They were expecting, you'd expect them to be mid table finish unless you ask. Will Will probably saw them like top five,

Jerrell (2) 18:52

yeah.

Christian 18:52

He loves him some hammers. But it's just, they've just been playing really, really bad. It's been a disas disastrous season for them. They just, it doesn't look like they're gonna be able to afloat.

Jerrell (2) 19:05

Yeah. Wolves currently are. 14 points. They're drowning. They are drowning. They like the, their turnaround will have to be, not to say that they don't, they can have a second half turnaround. They did it last year, but 14 points, 21 games into the season. That's tough. That's hard. Westham, it's, it's looking bleak for westham as well. Seven points. But like with Nottingham forests. Playing better, at least remaining competitive in some of their games. And then leads just, Hey, leads are content with drawing for the rest of the season. As long as it means that they, they get to stay in the Premier League, but these, these two teams might be cooked.

Christian 19:45

Oh yeah. We'll,

Jerrell (2) 19:46

Okay.

Christian 19:46

just tough. I really wanted the wolves to do better. Especially after they sign out. Yes, in the off season. Who got a goal? A couple match days ago. But you expect that from wolves. It's just like season after season of the wolves, selling their best players. They saw Mateo Suna and annuity leaf to the Manchester sides last off season. It's just you can't, if you can't keep your best players, you're always adding like random pieces here and there. You're not gonna be able to. To compete. So wolves, they're on Saints watch right now. They're, they're unfortunately only sitting at seven points. They have to be 12 points. So we'll see if they get there, but they definitely need to get better. Negative 26 goal differential is just awful. 15 goals that they've been able to score in 21 games. That's, unacceptable for a Premier League team and they definitely need to do better and I don't think they're gonna be able to make it out the right obligations Zone.

Jerrell (2) 20:39

Yeah, it, it, it might be Austin Mago Wolves. Oh man, Westham, you'll be right there with them, but at least we won't be baited into a catfish again.

Christian 20:52

Yeah.

Jerrell (2) 20:54

That's my hope. And that was it. That was 20 teams. That 20 teams recap. Pretty, pretty confident with your statements, Christian.

Christian 21:04

Oh yeah. Halfway through the season. Teams are sitting mid, mid, mid congested table, arsenal there to win the quadruple trouble, the quele, you will,

Jerrell (2) 21:16

Bel

Christian 21:17

the quele.

Jerrell (2) 21:18

can't wait. Alright.

Christian 21:20

But yeah, man, of, lot of soccer, a lot of food pulled out here.

Jerrell (2) 21:24

For sure. Premier League, we will be out for about a week. There's FA Cup and Care about Cup. In the meantime, we will touch on those if it pertains to any Premier League teams, and then we will be back for Match Day 22. Preview Match, day 22 kickoff on January 17th.

Christian 21:45

Quick shout out to Spain real quick. We have the Supercopa, the Espania final, and it's gonna be a classical Barcelona in the semis. We were able to destroy athletic

Jerrell (2) 21:55

absolutely It.

Christian 21:56

five zero, today Ram Madrid had the harder route to the final after beating a Lital Madrid in the Madrid. Derby two one with goals from Rodrigo who

Jerrell (2) 22:08

Verde,

Christian 22:08

out to Rodrigo and Verde the se second

Jerrell (2) 22:11

Verde's? It was two minutes in. Yeah. Did you see it?

Christian 22:15

I did not

Jerrell (2) 22:16

He went through the wall. The keeper didn't, didn't orchestrate the wall well enough, and he just went through it.

Christian 22:22

hell yeah. Verde, whenever Verde shoots a power shot, it's two. There's only two outcomes. Either it's a beautiful goal or it's outside the stadium. There is no in between. There is no like small misses from VA Verde. It's either an amazing goal that no one's gonna stop or someone's losing an eye.

Jerrell (2) 22:40

Amazing. All right. Now classical will be Saturday, you said?

Christian 22:44

Espan, I believe January 10th,

Jerrell (2) 22:47

Yep,

Christian 22:47

that

Jerrell (2) 22:48

this Saturday. All right, perfect. Tune into that. And watch Barcelona and Royal Madrid go at it.

Christian 22:54

that? It's probably good. That Will is in a different state. We can watch that together.

Jerrell (2) 23:00

We can. I might give, I might give real Madrid buff though. Barcelona always wins when I watch Will.

Christian 23:06

Oh, hell yeah. Now we, we can test that theory,

Jerrell (2) 23:09

we can.

Christian 23:09

if you watch it with me and Raw Madrid ones, I, we're, we're, we're gonna fight for every classical s with me.

Jerrell (2) 23:17

I have to go to Charlotte.

Christian 23:20

Oh, no.

Jerrell (2) 23:22

Alright, Christian, any shout outs before we sign off?

Christian 23:26

Shout out to our listeners wherever you guys are, all over the world. We love you. We'll do this for you guys. We do this for us'cause it's fun to talk with friends about soccer, but also shout out to everybody listening.

Jerrell (2) 23:38

All right, and with that, we'll see you guys next week. I promise. I promise we won't take another week off. All right, till next time.