Pastizzi & Penalties Podcast
An English-language podcast dedicated to Maltese football
Pastizzi & Penalties Podcast
S2 E1 - 2026/27 MPL Season Preview
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Erġajna lura! Yes, the Pastizzi & Penalties podcast is finally back and entering into our second series!
For Episode 1, I am joined by Times of Malta sports journalist, and women's football expert, Gianluca Lia (@gianlia96), as we delve into the forthcoming season for Il-Kampjonat Premjer.
We delve into the signings we think will have the biggest impact, and also which clubs we think will win the title or struggle to beat the drop.
We also take a quick look at the UEFA competitions campaign for Maltese clubs, which came to a very premature end.
As always, thanks for listening!
Welcome everyone to uh the Place Item Penalties podcast. We're on series two, finally, Long Live with you. Um and episode number one. Um my name is Paul, um, and I am joined uh by my esteemed guest. Um you'll be familiar with uh tons of motorsports writer and women's football expert, Jan Luca Leah. Jan Luca, good evening, my friend. How are you?
SPEAKER_03Good evening, Paul. Thank you very much for the annual invitation. I'm I'm very good. Thank you, Paul Isabel from your end as well.
SPEAKER_00Yes, good to hear that you're well, and uh yes, all goodness and thank you. We've survived El Nino. And uh yeah, for anyone who's not been in Malta, um it's been particularly tricky this uh this summer because most localities have been without power for some considerable time as well. And anyone who's tried to survive 40 odd degrees with no air conditioning, uh, you'll know what that's like. So I hope it's not been so bad uh down where you are, Gianluca, as it has here.
SPEAKER_03I mean, I remember the Buja coastal area, so you have to see breeze at least. Kind of, I mean, because it's it's not even warm, it's very hot. So it's it's it's very tough to be fair, even if you go to the beach to cool yourself, you need to immediately find some shade because it's heat is terrible during the day.
SPEAKER_00It is, it is. Uh here in Laclean, obviously, we don't have the sea, unfortunately. Um, but we were without power for over 24 hours, which was interesting.
SPEAKER_03In your case, those areas um um have been bettered with um uh without electricity for a long period of time uh during the eye um uh the uh clean those areas. Yeah, but not really. Um actually we had we didn't really have any issues. Let's hope I don't have any issues now during the podcast. Let's hope I don't jinx it, but uh as we speak, you you you had very bad this this July um in other another areas, uh especially around Cotonair. I know people who had spent three or four days without electricity, which is crazy. Um it's great, it's great because it brings obviously a lot of damage within all the yes, indeed.
SPEAKER_00And uh yeah, I don't think I've ever spent so long in a shopping mall just to get some air conditioning as I have this summer, so yes. Um but we survive, and here we are, and as you say, hopefully we haven't jinxed it, hopefully the power doesn't fail on us now that we're finally onto series two. So um I think obviously we have uh the 2627 uh campaign at premiere uh season about to start in a couple of days' time, but I think um there's a big elephant in the room which we have to address first before we move on to the MPL, and that is uh Maltese clubs in Europe. Um I think we can probably all agree that it's been a pretty miserable campaign all round. Um we find all of the clubs out at just the second qualifying round of the Conference League and the Champions League. Um and you know, when we compare to last season to relics by Hamroon making the group stages um in the uh in the conference league, um it's a bit of an anti-con the mix this time around. Um Florian, uh they started well enough, of course, uh beat Shamrock Rovers at home. Um, and that looked a pretty decent result, but then they had to obviously go to Dublin and it went very wrong. Um but um Mosuschluck as well beaten 4-0 on aggregate by Punick in Armenia, or above Armenia, I should say. The letter probably had the toughest time of all the clubs, I would say. Um if you look at the Polish extra cluster, uh it's ranked as the 10th uh in the UA for top flight coefficients. Um, so for them to lose 7-1, and they they did well away from home as well at 3-1. Um, and then Hamroon, of course, which was probably the biggest surprise for me uh being dumped out 3-2 in aggregate by Runovic of the Faroe Islands. But what did you make of it overall taking all four clubs into account this time, Gianluca?
SPEAKER_03As you said, Valletta had the Tabez Draw Ball. Uh, I think no one expected them to go past Strakow of Poland, a team that last season had even beaten Fiorentina, the conference league as well. So it's a team of great quality of important players. So as you said, Valletta did pretty well, especially in the first leg for uh I think they couldn't advance more than that, obviously. So it's disappointing to go out, you know, and uh score on aggregate, but I think overall they played a very good team that can be competitive in the later stages of uh of the conference leases. Absolutely. In terms of Hammon, I think it's disappointing, obviously, you know. I mean where they made history for trying to do a conference league uh league stage. Obviously, it's disappointing as well, even more actually the way at the end of the day, I think it was fairly balanced over over the two legs, and I think Hamron couldn't have gone past um Brunavik. So I would not without controversy, of course, as well. Exactly, exactly. So I wouldn't say that uh Hamron were disappointing because they put out because I think they did well, it was the first season against the team that uh were halfway to their domestic campaign as well. So and they have to consider as well the issues that Hamron faced, the first leg because of their flight issues.
SPEAKER_00Yes, with all the weather conditions and such. Yeah. Yeah, at one point they weren't even sure the game was gonna go ahead in the Ferrari.
SPEAKER_03So I think in most is of an expression in Jornata and Flow the Torique, um uh kind of you know what happens, the first thing that happens in the morning sets the tone for the rest of the day. So I think that first leg it it kind of set the tone of what would go to happen, no. So I think those were two kind of extraordinary situations. Um Marza Schlock kind of were were uh were a ghost over the collect basically because uh we knew that we as journalists kind of did some research about clinic, we knew that they were they were a strong side, um but we expected a little bit more height. Maybe physically they were a little bit behind, uh but there was still no match at all. Then in the second leg and the first half, slop did well, but I think uh by the point the match was already just controlled the match and made sure to see the qualification counter. So I was disappointed with uh a team that didn't really strengthen a lot during the during the transfer market, so that yeah, possibly it's uh that's not the ideal resume, you know. We'll speak about that later on. And then and then Floriana uh it's true that they had won the first leg, but if you break down the first leg, I I think the better they took the game to Floriana immediately in the second leg, they would have uh ramp past them and like they did. Although Floriana did uh come from behind and second leg, so it was a little bit better, but then at the match were on Shamrock.
SPEAKER_00Uh and we shouldn't forget obviously Shamrock also halfway through their domestic season as well. So match fit, yeah.
SPEAKER_03I think the most disappointing is the way they go out against it of both of all then. Uh yes. I mean disappointing at the same time they were unfortunate because they conceded the goal. Exactly, and when that happens, it's usually kind of a fatal blow.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_03It's like you conceded a fourth or you have to come back from behind again, and then they're extra diamonds. And it's not a very smart, but uh instant size um duty things from Cosmo um do give a hard time all these clubs as well. So uh I think that was maybe the most uh pointing result besides the master lock high. And as you said, no, I'm a miserable campaign. I don't I know that in recent years we had one season that uh we had miserable campaigns like this, but we are now to have at least one team at least in the dead at the time. And Oriana had a great chance of making it playoffs and they would have faced a few or of some kind of but yes, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Exactly. Yeah, it is, it is. Yeah, you gotta be in it to win it, and didn't win it at the end of the day, that's that's the thing. Um so yeah, I mean, so all UEFA competitions are now without Maltese participation. Um, and I just wonder, you know, with with all the changes going on in the MPL and making the product more professional and more money floating around? Should we look at this as a big disappointment, or is it just something that we should get used to? Was Hamroon making the group stages a flesh in the pan? Um, or can we really see Maltese clubs competing again to make group stages again, in your opinion?
SPEAKER_03I think uh Hamrun's uh I believe that Hamrun's qualification wasn't one season one, that was the quality of the teams in the conference league, especially in the qualifying stage, but even the league stage. Um they are good teams. There are some some teams, but overall with a little bit of uh uh projection you can see a competitive team can qualify to a single player depending on the draw you say you're gonna take. I think the issues say up there and projection now study a bit what other teams are best of after the first team they bring or face, you know, try to implement some criteria kind of bring players according to those profiles and then from then you can start to talk about being competitive here in yellow. I believe that they had a competitive team, they were still an unfinished product, but they had the also the issues of the gauges as well. Yes, and then unfortunately some there had to step down. So how how how did have a tried to be honest, but um but I believe they still had a good team, and maybe once they had qualified the past, I think they would have uh players game or like what happened last year. They qualified against Argus and then round after round they continue to their squad, which is normal for Mortis class because maybe they can uh bring players by two, but sometimes unfortunately and sometimes players are waiting to see how I can do that. Uh so I don't believe that some of the game is the one. I believe that we can have to call it and qualify, but they need to really end probably last year. Okay, they lost and they lost the second time, and then they lost where they played really, really well. I think they fought uh against Team of Columbia who had already qualified, so they have some experience, but they are not very strong team and their idea investment they qualify. And then actually they performed pretty well in the in the competition stage. I think the only game they really kind of um played negatively to less certain point was the Samsung Wallace game.
SPEAKER_00Yep. Okay. Um hopefully more to look forward to next season, and I think that takes us on nicely to the MPL season to come this season because I think it is going to be a very strong MPL this season. Um there are some clubs, and uh, you know, I'm thinking mostly of my own club, Slima Wanderers, who have strengthened very, very well uh during this summer. Not just Slima by any means, but um, you know, that's I'm thinking close to home there. Um, and so it will be interesting um to see who makes Europe at the end of this season. But before we get ahead of ourselves, um obviously the season is due to begin uh this Friday. You'll have a lot of interest on Friday, of course, Beer Zabuja open the season at home to Floriana. Uh, is that one you're gonna be covering?
SPEAKER_03I will be there for sure. Obviously, it's it's a historic game for our for our town now. Twenty years ago, I was at the Centine watching Brazil Buddha greeting Santa Fe and I won one-nil. We are celebrating the third the promotion from the third to second as champion. So 20 years later, now we are at the same venue, but facing the Premier League holders on Thursday, one of the historic of a historic campaign that hopefully um preserve us plenty of surprises for our hometown now.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, absolutely, and that's the beauty of football, right? Um, you know, one year, like you say, you're celebrating promotion out of the third tier, and then all of a sudden now you're you're at the top table. Um, anything is possible. And I guess we should look at with regards to Bizabudja, obviously, there's had to be a lot of strengthening involved as there is with any club that comes up from the Challenge League into the MPL. Um, now oddly, uh Bizabudja have lost their top two scorers from last season. Paul Lapiro has gone, Duven Mushkera also has gone. Uh, I think he's gone to Ansilem in Gazo. Um Lapiro, I'm not sure about. I've not seen him actually sign anywhere else just yet. But I mean, is that something that would concern you as a Bizabudja supporter losing your top two scorers going into the top flight?
SPEAKER_03Um on paper it might seem yes, but we were expecting those two to depart from the club. Uh maybe Duvan had some question marks whether he would remain, and he's a foreigner as well, but um we knew that three-fourths of the team that's controlled from the challenge had to be changing because there's a huge gap between the primary challenge.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_03So we are expecting a lot of changes. And uh actually Dober Zabuja did manage to keep some of the classes and play uh players um the captain as well, which I think it was a nice touch as well, and uh also some of the veterans. I think they uh the aim was to create uh perfect lineup between experienced players both Maltese and foreign who are familiar with uh these familiar and also foreign players that are new to the Maltese game but can bring can have an immediate impact as well. Uh they don't need you know because they might be familiar with the game and they might take it for granted. And then when they find that it's very physical, uh they might struggle it first. But there's a boo just show that they they are ambitions affected names they put uh some names that are so I think that that that that is the recipe. Um so I I hope that they know what they're doing, they have a good production. Their idea was to compare these when when there was a promotion card, they had said they wanted to get to Europe. So I was expecting to be fair a more aggressive transfer market. I think the players they brought in, I don't see them competitive to enter Europe maybe to finish top six, but I think I still did the top six teams better than than every time. But I think with the teams they have like can avoid it's the relegation, but less but the right we're speaking about a league where the format can of course anything can happen. Yeah, so it's not like that you can say by December you have avoided relegation. By December you might have avoided the game, but then by January and your championship starts again.
SPEAKER_00So uh absolutely, I mean, let's look at Nashara Lions last season, finished in the bottom two, then finished fourth and still got relegated. I mean, it's it's bizarre. We could fill an entire episode on that on its own, I think, John Luca, and we've spoken about this on many occasions. Of course, yeah, exactly. Yeah. But I mean, because of budget, they've made some good summings, as you say. Um, perhaps maybe not as aggressive as as the supporters had hoped, but definitely some solid uh summonings there. Sean Dimek from uh Bekakaro, I thought was a very good summoning, solid player. Um, and one interesting one because I mentioned about the top two scorers departing the club, uh, is Surinameese striker. He's 25 years old, Dyeshawn Redelli. Uh now I have a vague recollection of him for playing in Premier League 2, which was the under-23s for Chelsea, and he also played in the UA for Youth League as well. I mean, he's been he's been about, he's been in Italy, he's been in Holland, he's been in Germany, Belgium. Um not a hugely prolific striker wherever he's been, um, but he has played for the Netherlands at every age group level, up to and including the under-21s. He's now declared for Suriname. Um, but is he a player you've sort of heard much about? Um, he seems to have come out of nowhere.
SPEAKER_03Last he played, it was at Avellino. I think he has been out of action since December. From what I heard, he was training uh alone the physio, still trying to get back in form. But he did come off the bench against Lieman, the Jamaican Sky Cup final on Saturday, uh late the last few minutes. I think from what I could see because we'll be playing 4-2-1 formations. I think he might be playing the winker. Uh, because up front they brought in some forwards, they brought in a peritoneal striker from Celia Discroyation.
SPEAKER_00Uh yes, you're a Messiah as well from Valetto.
SPEAKER_03Uh we'll be playing as a winger, the 4-2-1. Then they brought in also a Canadian Iranian forward who was a starter against Leon.
SPEAKER_01Yes, to Tabritzi.
SPEAKER_03Uh-huh, exactly.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03And they brought in uh Gabriel Costa, who had already played in Moeth with Ashar, uh Cyanids, and he might have played Ron Legisla. Um he's a new one game at least. Uh so I haven't really seen how he uh how he's he was used as a good reserve version because he I think he didn't play against him. Uh so I think, to be honest, speaking about the forward department that might be the part where they may be letting a very prolific strike unless one of these Strikers uh even immediately I think they were hoping that the boys would come from the wings. Maybe Redan Wings they're also putting uh Pietrelli, a youngster.
SPEAKER_00Uh uh yeah, he's uh Belgian youth international, isn't he? I'd I've looked him up, Tomaselli. He came from Italy, but I think he was from Belgium.
SPEAKER_03He was Cantale, I think, yes, yes. Yeah, mm-hmm. Um he was playing as a right winger against the uh he showed some fighting swing. He's a very interesting player, to be honest. So I think so. We have to see whether they have brought in the right players up front. But then in terms of confidence or defensive back, I think they they have brought in some very strong, tall players uh that that fit with the Maltese game. So we have to be very physical in the Maltis game. Of course. Some of them are also familiar with the game, obviously, they put in uh also and also they brought in a very good goalkeeper, uh Kieza, who was uh uh managed by Verona and he played against him and he did a very good saves, and I think he brings a lot of experience as well. So this is also some attaining connection as team as well, which is putting on maybe I have some question marks over the coaching stuff. Uh I was surprised that they kept uh uh Gabriela as coach, uh, but I think at the same time he deserved it as well.
SPEAKER_00And I mean you mentioned about there being the Italian connection, also Alessandro Coppola, um, who was at had two spells at Bekakara's centre half because it's one thing to put the ball in the net, but you've got to keep him out the other end, right? So and Coppola is I saw him play for Becca a few times, um, and he's a good player. I mean, obviously he's he's a real aerial presence for one, um, but he's actually quite quick for such a big guy as well. So I I'm guessing they'll sort of rely on his experience quite heavily defensively. Um the key player will be Alex Bunno, by the way.
SPEAKER_03I think Alex Uno formerly of Hibbs. Um it was the game changer last season to change uh he brings a lot of pace for that position, and I think Wizard will hopefully will make use of him as a as a white heart up front. Uh he showed it against him as well. They didn't make a lot of use of uh his runs in the last time about the board. So I hope that was just that's something that they are working on because I think he can be uh valuable as a front.
SPEAKER_00Sure. And if I am to sort of put you on the spot, John like uh will Bisabu just stay up this season.
SPEAKER_03I mean we are we are in August now, but that's it, the the the format can Yeah, that's the thing.
SPEAKER_02It's it's tough to predict, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Uh if the normal if the format was now I would say yes. Now the format changing uh it's difficult to say. But I believe they have to build a support that is strong enough to stay up. Um comfortably without going until the last media, not knowing whether they were there. So I let's say I put my hand on the fire and say yes, they were there.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, fair enough. I admire your optimism and yeah, I wouldn't I certainly wouldn't disagree with you. I think there's enough goals in that team if they can keep everybody fit. Um there's enough goals in that team to get you out of trouble should you find yourselves in trouble. Um, and there's plenty of experience in that team as well. You've also got guys like Jackson Mendoza um that have signed for the club. Um, so I think there's enough there. There's the Danish midfielder as well, uh Rasmus Telefson, who obviously that's what came in as well from the United as well. Uh yes, I saw that. I saw that. Yeah, I saw that today. Um, as you say, in Malta clubs are signing players right up to the start of the season and beyond. And I think today I've seen about three different things.
SPEAKER_03Or they are with the club, but but they just put in the comment registration very late. I don't know for which reason, to be honest. I have I have I have never spoken to a club administrator about this, but I remember now I I see Berzep, which are starting to announce the players uh starting from late July, early August, then so the players had already played the previous friends. So I don't know why they didn't, but it's okay, I mean.
SPEAKER_00Yep. As long as they put pen to paper, that's that's the main thing, right? Um okay, and I'd just like to move on now, if I can, just to the other promoted side. So obviously we've got Balzan, who had a very brief stay in the challenge league. Um, they obviously won the league at the first attempt. Um, they've also made a few signings. I think um your statement about Bizabudja and being more aggressive in the transfer market, I think there's kind of that rings true for me with Balzan. I kind of expected them, given their sort of the fact that they are a fairly established apart from last season top flight side, I expected them to perhaps be a little more aggressive in the transfer market than they have been. Um they've kept, well it appears that they've kept the basis of the team that won the Challenge League last season. Uh, and within that, there's obviously quite a bit of experience, like Summit Arab, Nicolas Bulis, um and guys of that ill obviously they managed to keep hold of Awasanya DeMegji as well, the striker, who I was kind of surprised went down with them in the first place because I thought he was quite a key player for them when they were in when they got relegated from the MPL. Um, but they've made also a couple more additions. Uh they got Makula, the Brazilian from Bikekara. Um they've also uh brought in Guay and Rocil from Nashar Lions, Isaac Davy from Sui United, who I saw quite a bit of last season. Um he's sort of a full backstroke wing back. Um and Emmanuel Asante, who was um, I think he was a second top scorer for Sue after they went obviously so close and lost out to Beer Zabudja uh in promotion from the Challenge League. But uh what do you think? Um what do you think of the business Balzan have done? Um are you familiar with many of the players? Obviously, they've brought in a lot from within Malta, but um perhaps those that we're we're not seen in Malta before. Um, and do you kind of see them having enough? I know, like we said, the format is a bit random, but do you see them having enough to sort of be competitive up until January?
SPEAKER_03I think as you said, to the contrary of Brazil Buja, this was a low-key uh transfer market, no. Uh although they did brought in some interesting names, especially those familiar with the Maltese game, like Rosiel, right? Uh Makula, I think they are they are interesting players. Um maybe Balsan were more keen about making just minor, not minor, they did major tweaks, but uh without bringing big names, but you know, bringing in players that fit the criteria they set out now, obviously depending on their budget as well. Uh but I I don't see Balsan I see Balzan fighting for relegation to be fair. Uh more than even you know further on to the season till the end maybe they they will be involved in a relegation battle. Uh not because they have a they did not build a competitive side, but because I I think there are teams built better than them overall across all the departments. But I still believe that Waltz and Broad in some interesting players. I'm I'm sure they try to learn from the mistakes they made now in the last season, the Premier League as well. As well, he has he's assisted by uh Boyan Khaleb as well who's experienced in the models as well. Yeah. Um sometimes myself I I do watch some balsam training sessions as well because they train at St. Lois's. Yes, that's right. Yep. I do my personal training there, so I sometimes uh listen, I I think they also based on on physicality as well, no? Players like routine are very physical as well. So I think where in matches where they will uh struggle technically, they will try to compensate physically as well. Uh most of all, I think they will be a team that will be hard to beat. I think that's something the coin is trying to instill in them as well. Um we have to see whether they have a squad uh that is long enough as well. Um sometimes there are the midweek games that can make it a bit tricky as well. Yeah, they need to to make sure that they get the points against teams that will be six pointers from the start, no. Because I think that's something that is always difficult for some it's it's a thing that affects these teams that are fighting for relegation. Uh but I I think that for example uh might be an interesting asset for Balzan. Uh he he joined them in the premiere, then they do the Chinese league, they kept faith in him as well. Obviously, they won the Chen League, no, which wasn't straightforward last season, it was quite a battle, to be honest. Um and now he's he has his own team in the Premier, no reason with them with the market he wanted, so this will be an interesting test for him as a coach as well.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, absolutely. Um, I saw a lot of their games in the Challenge League last year, and they did manage to keep hold of quite a few established names, um, which obviously helped them. I did find with Balzan though that they were very susceptible to pace. Um in they played primarily a back three last season. You have guys like Arab and Pulis who are, whilst they're you know, they're good athletes, they're not the quickest. Um, and I I mean one particular game they played St. Andrews Luxhole in the closing stages of the Challenge League, and uh St Andrews beat them 4-1, I think it was. Um, it was just, you know, literally spin off the shoulder. And um yeah, they got a lot of joy that way, St. Andrews. Um, so I think that's something that will be interesting to see if they have strengthened enough there. They haven't done a huge amount of business when it comes to the defensive side. There's uh a couple of Serbians, uh, Nikola Djurich and Nikola Inyatovic. Um, I think Inyatovich, uh I'm just trying to remember where he came from. Uh he's come from Singapore, Singaporean football. So that's an unusual uh route to Malta, but uh it's a global game these days, right? Um, and I think Isaac Davy is a good signing as well. He's you know he's got good engine on him, plenty of pace as well. Uh complained. Yes, the Guinea Basal, yeah, exactly. And they needed that because they really only had Dylan Chapara um and Niklas Vela, who is still obviously very well they brought in a goalkeeper who's familiar uh with Muelta, the Premier League.
SPEAKER_03Uh he was with Zabar, wasn't he, at the end of the last season? He wasn't the starter with Zabar, actually. Then he played in the final games as well. Uh remember, actually, he played in the F-A-2 and they defeated when they c was an upset for good. They had an eight, but he played really well that they um so I think they brought in a very good goalkeeper with some baggage of experience as well, um, which they needed as well between the six now. Sure. Yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_00Um okay, cool. So uh we've done the two newly promoted clubs. Um, obviously, if we go through every club individually, we could be here all night. So um what we sort of uh discussed previously was that um we'd sort of pick out um our own personal best signing of the summer. Um so I'll hand you the floor, and if you want to give me uh the signing out of all the summer signings that you think has or will be the best signing.
SPEAKER_03Obviously, I mean the easiest answer would be to determine one, also, I think. Snap, yes, I got him also. Let's see, let's leave him out. Um I did think a little bit about this, uh, and it's not easy to be honest. Um good ones, I this, yeah. It's true, it's true. Um, because I can say, for example, Zek Muscat to Baker Car is a very interesting sign. That was my second one, also. Great minds think alike. Obviously, they are easy ones to pick, to be honest as well. But Zek Muscat, with all his his experience, yeah, all his professionalism and coming back to Baker Car, I club that in the recent, especially last year, but had some turmoil now with the environment. And they are now bringing in players with the experience but also with some charisma, no, he did everything. Uh I believe that he can be a really a really good addition um to the Kekara, but also to the Maltese game as well. Uh listen, Slima made a lot of important signings, uh obviously, and I don't do and I want to say his name properly. And Nilin Bombers uh Yes, I'm very excited about that one. Uh very good player. I saw him against the Buja, he scored a magnificent goal. He came off the bench and then dribble past to play. It was the first drive he made actually received the ball, went past two players and fired a shot, you know, past the ballkeeper. It was very good. I think if he can produce some of the qualities he produced during the during his career, I think he can really be uh a game changer. Ironically, an interesting fact. Um I had watched the Bombay Live and one of his seven games he played in the Champions League. I was at Leicester. I was at Leicester, I went to watch Leicester and Club Bruges and he was playing with Club Bruges then.
SPEAKER_00I remember that game for some strange reason. I'm not a Leicester fan or a Bruch fan, but I remember him playing in that game. Um, I think he came on as a sub, did he not? Because there were a lot of questions of Michel Prudam about why he hadn't.
SPEAKER_03He was neglected group stage.
SPEAKER_01Yes, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00And obviously, he's also a full Belgian international as well, albeit only played the one game. But we're talking about someone with real talent.
SPEAKER_03I forgot against it, was a friend I forgot against whom had they played the friend.
SPEAKER_00Saudi Arabia, I believe.
SPEAKER_03I looked this up this afternoon, yeah. And then I had checked the lineup that was that that was the the Belgium that deserved or at least had hope to win the 2018 World Cup. I obviously it was the golden age. It was like, whoa, he had made it to this team, and he must really have been good. Sure, sure. Yeah. But but but I think, and even listen, even Roberta is a good player as well. Major Roberta.
SPEAKER_00Yes, I'm I'm not hugely familiar with Roberto. I've done a bit of sort of research on him, and you know, this is something that I have said for some time now that Slima were just a 20-goal a season striker away from really challenging for the title because every other area of that squad looks tight, it looks great, looks very strong, lots of depth, just needed a striker that could be preliminary.
SPEAKER_03Because Roberta and and uh Limbombe most probably will play as as winkers. Uh maybe Montebello through the middle or something. The way they played against Brizabujet was kind of a 4-4-2, but Tauma had a had a pretty much a free roll. Um, so it was Montebello front and Taylor picking up the ball in spaces. Frank was basing a lot of his game around rotations, rotations, fullback coming inside and shed, you know, so I think we'll have we will see an interesting cinema side. Uh but I think maybe they still miss the striker, the you know, the the the number nine aerial threat. Um Montebello is a good player, but I believe that for a team that has spent heavily during the summer and clearly want to win the league and want to, you know, advance in Europe. I think they need a striker. Um but then again, with the acquisitions they made on the flanks, I I believe they won't be short of goals, you know. Uh sure. And Delma, I think, will have his say when it comes to goals as well. So I think there are still options from where they can score. But I might just but it's kind of an observation that I believe that Slima might have uh brought in uh a more reliable strike when it comes to goals. Although Monte Bello can be a perfect striker, we have to can't forget his his one table goals with Cameron when they had won the league, you know, before he left. So I think he can still have his say. No, uh after all, he's an team player, so uh and if the team starts to play well, the team is offensive and he finds himself with plenty of chances, might find his mojo at the end of the day.
SPEAKER_00Sure, that would be nice, yes. And I mean, also there is uh one option um that we're forgetting is um Alex Satoriano, who of course can play as well.
SPEAKER_03But obviously Hataremo is a player that can drive forward from his base and score goals at the end of the gala, so that's another option.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I mean at Birkakari was used obviously, yeah, more of an attacking midfielder, but I mean, whilst he's got that in his arsenal, he can also, and he has done for Malta, of course, played uh up top as an out and out striker as well. So that's a great option to have. Uh, I'm not sure how the club sort of plan to use him, but it's a nice, nice problem to have. So um, and it's another good signing. It was another one that was on my list of potential. I mean, these big signings of the summer.
SPEAKER_03These big names uhquisitions are obviously you know um interesting signings. But for example, Slima, also Slima, because Slim have brought in some interesting race. They brought in also Gambarde as well from the bar who players as well. So um these are all interesting signings. But there are also Hibernians made some important signings as well, players with some good jobs. As well, besides the foreigners that came in with plenty of experience as well. Uh, Pikelkara themselves made some some some interesting signings as well. I think these teams that have been like Hiberians have been have not really been competitive when it comes to league in recent years. And Pikel Cara, who wants to cancel last year's disappointment as well. Um they have made some some some interesting signings. But I think every team, especially the top six teams, the top six that I have in mind, including Vallette as well, have made some some interesting uh signings as well. Um even just from players that were already more tables as well. Uh so it makes for an I hope it makes for an interesting championship, no?
SPEAKER_00It does, yes. I think it's gonna be a very, very competitive division, and I think that's at both ends as well. Um I have sort of a handful of clubs that I picture as struggling a little bit this season, but I think there's enough of them that it will keep it competitive at both ends of the table. Um, I mean, who do you see who would be if you had to put your money on someone who's who's your tip uh to take out the title? And again, I I use that word loosely given the format of the league. Um, but who who do you think is gonna be victorious come the end of the season?
SPEAKER_03Uh it has to be slim, obviously. Um they infested a lot. Uh they brought Intel at home as well, can be a huge game changer even at international level, let alone in one good game. But also the players around him are very good. Uh from the one preseason as they I watched them, they have an interesting uh system of play as well. I think Franco has his hands full of players that are very technical that can very that can quickly grasp what he has in mind, you know, can play some technical and flow on football, some slick passing and you know switching play and everything. So I think this will be a very aggressive slim aside. But I wouldn't but so I would say Slima, but I obviously I wouldn't leave out other teams like Cameroon. But they have a question mark about Amelia's impact as a coach as well. And I believe that Cameroon are still an unfinished team. They still have to make at least one signing. Valletta finished the season strongly and they have a strong team as well. But then you have Big Ricardo and Hybrand as well, but they brought in players that some of they brought them from abroad. So you need to see their impact on them all this game. So obviously I think Slimmer will start heavily as favourite, you know.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah. I kind of said the same thing, providing that that the number nine is there. Um I I have Slima down as favorite. I didn't want to say that because I don't want to appear biased. Um, but I always felt we were just one good, prolific number nine away from winning the title.
SPEAKER_03Listen, if Slima win, obviously I'm happy because you know uh I'm a I'm a Slima fan personally. Slima's my my pre my Premier League team.
SPEAKER_00Ah okay, all right. My mistake.
SPEAKER_03I always thought you were just I keep it low key, you know. But obviously, when it comes to Birza Buja, Birzabuja remains my hometown, you know. So whenever they they face each other, it's Birza Buja, my hometown. And so and then I have a connection with another town with Seng as well. It's the place where I was baptized, you know, it's the place of my family's side of the film. So it's kind of Sengla and Brizabuja are on the same boat. Then I have kind of the Premier League. It's like you know, supporting a National League team and then supporting the Premier League team. Yeah. But I have been supporting Slimov since I started to watch the Maltese game 2004-2005, you know. So I have plenty of shirts and balls signed with players from that from the spirits, which one day I will take photos and show it to you as well. So uh nice, nice. Uh but to be, I don't have really a story how I came up supporting Slim. It was like some random colleague of mine that had had asked me who he was in a bit biker, and had asked me would you support him or then Slim over the team to beat during two speed and then Arigo presidency, yeah. Robert Arigo, yeah. Sorry, that's Slim. And then from the moment I started to support Slim and stayed like this. But I just wanted to add this bit to the podcast.
SPEAKER_00Excellent. No, no, no, that's that's music to my ears. So yeah, no, they'll there's no arguments for me. We're not cutting that one out. Yeah. Um okay, so I mean, we've we kind of talked about so I think we're we're pretty much both agreed then without bias, even that we think Slima are definitely. Even despite the form of yes, yeah, absolutely. I I certainly wouldn't argue with that at all. Um, what about the other end? I know we've we've obviously talked about perhaps Balzan might find the going a little bit tough. Um, I are there any sort of established um MPL teams that you think um might struggle to beat the drop this season?
SPEAKER_03Uh yes, I think to be honest, it's on paper for me it looks predictable how it will finish top six because I have uh Amroon, Sliema, for Yana, the Iberian left us to top six. Um to be fair, I would be surprised if one of them fails to make it to top six, although we are now used to surprises, you know. Of course, yeah. So if one of the teams, you know, um has has not brought in the right players, they might they might struggle, you know. Uh what but I think when it comes to the potem six, I have obviously Birzer Bouja, have uh Balzan. I think Birza Buja was stay up, Balzan will fight for the legation. There is Zira as well. I have a question, Marco Bergzira. Uh they also had a low-key transfer mark. Yeah, yeah, I could struggle a bit. Um but I don't know about Marcel Schlock, to be honest with you. Uh I think last year they maybe punished above their weight, maybe yes, maybe no, but I think in the latter part of the season they showed some great quality. Uh and obviously they eventually played in the final. Um and they did really well. So they were minutes away from becoming multi champions. Uh, had uh entered into extra time and everything, you know. That wasn't Floriana's last-minute goal as well. Um so so I have a question mark over Marcus Lok just for the simple reason that I explained before that they haven't really strengthened the team or made some improvements from last year. When you kind of have a team that had his moment, came close, not it's tough to restart again with the same team. So uh I they have a good coach, Potenza, I have a very so I think that's he's a valuable asset to the club. But I have a question mark over Mazash Lok as well. Maybe I have their European displays on my mind, so I'm a little bit uh affected by that. Uh but but but I wouldn't be surprised if Mazaj Lok will fight for relegation this season.
SPEAKER_00Uh yeah, it's an interesting one, and again, it's something that I kind of looked at in the last week or so, and it's like uh, you know, they they really haven't made too many changes. Probably the least of all the teams I can see in the MPL so far this summer. Um, they've still got some good players, of course. Um, they have Dudu up front who's you know weighed in with uh most of the goals last season. Uh Rasmus Linden, the Danish striker as well. I quite like the look of him.
SPEAKER_03Um but yeah, it's a striker from from um from Brazil, Matheus Silva, who played in Europe. Uh yes. So uh so listen, if if if they if they do well, then it it means that one of the top six teams will fight Marcel Schlock for for uh to stay out of the top six as well. So it won't be easy for us. Then you have to pick out a team won't do well in the top six now. So so it uh it's very tight, it's very tight, huh?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, sure, yeah, absolutely, very competitive. And I'll just throw uh one name in there because um one of the clubs I had where I think well it was probably the first club I thought of when it came to um relegation, and it it might be slightly unkind, but it's Moster. Um I've I know that they're waiting. I've I've read this week that they have several signings from various African countries, which they're struggling to get visas for. Um, but as soon as it's done, they can obviously join up with a squad. Time is not on their side, of course. The season starts this weekend. But if you look at the squad they have, obviously they finished last season not particularly well. Um, and you know, the the signings they've made are very few and far between. I think Jeffrey Achampong, the midfielder, is a good player. We had him at Slemer, of course. Um, but have they really done enough business? They've lost Prince Emmanuel as well, who was their top scorer who's gone to the Czechia. Um so it it I'd kind of worry a little bit for them.
SPEAKER_03I mean, at this point, uh we are used to to Mostano fighting for survival, but at the same time bringing in some very interesting players which then they uh monetize on. Um they have this issue with the play with the foreign players, which might be a little bit there, at least their first part of the season. Um I I expect Mustard to you know to fight the relegation for that. Um but I expect them to to be a uh a team hard to beat, uh especially in the later stages of the campaign. Now we are used to a Musta side that when it matters most in the final part of the season, you know, they uh they show some grit, some fighting spirit. Um that's why I think that's uh they have never they have always avoided the drop as well. Uh at the same time they have stayed with the same uh coaching stuff as well, very extra. Yes, which I think makes a difference when it comes to those you know scar top six pointers at the end of the season. But also the format helps, you know, because uh you can have a difficult first, second season on the drawing board, and then uh make sure that you try to uh go into the top six, but uh you know that you'll still have uh have to fight it out if you manage to go to top six. You are still planning out how to beat the teens in the bottom six.
SPEAKER_01Exactly.
SPEAKER_03I mean essentially two seasons in one, right? So exactly, exactly. And yeah, uh they are not investing a lot in terms of a lot of money, you know, substantially. So obviously their aim is to stay in the premier and to keep the cycle going, you know. Yeah, for me, if they stayed last season, they will stay in the Premier League forever because last season it was written on the wall for them, you know, and at the end of the day they still manage to survive. So sure.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah. Okay, well, that will be one to watch. Uh they have also um got uh Prince Afri, uh, who was on loan in Greece last season. Yeah, he he's back with the club this season, so that's that's one for them. And Tia Guino as well, who was at Slima, um, who they've signed as well. So there's a bit of experience there. Um, okay, cool. So um just uh just as an aside as well with the MPL, um, I make it that we have seven Maltese coaches out of the 12 going into this season, so that's uh a healthy number. Um so yeah, it's it's promising. We're seeing more Maltese players coming back from abroad as well. We've mentioned Zach Muscat, Teddy Talma, uh Alex Sateriano. Um so yeah, it's um we're we're gonna see a little bit more local representation, I think, in uh in the 26-27 season. Um just a couple of other um transfers that I just wanted to um touch on, John Luca. So obviously there's been the very well publicised, and we're dropping into the challenge league here, the very well publicised signing of Matthew Valbuena at Santa Lucia. Um now obviously we're all familiar with Valbuena.
SPEAKER_03Um of the season, they don't have it.
SPEAKER_0041. Uh no sell-on value there, I don't think. But I mean, what did you make of that one? Because for me, it seems a slightly odd one. I mean, it's a name, I get it, uh, and it does obviously put the club on the map somewhat, but I can't imagine it's a cheap signing. Um, and going into the second tier as well when 41 years old. What do we make of that one?
SPEAKER_03Uh Santarchi have an ambitious owner. Um that's Turkish ownership now, right? Turkish, yes. Um obviously he's wealthy, and uh, I think he just wanted to make a statement, you know, um through sponsors, I'm pretty sure, you know, to bring a market signing. And uh I obviously the ambition is to go up into the premier, but you have to build a very good squad overall, not just you know, through one player, but the challenge is a very difficult league.
SPEAKER_00Yes, uh it's gonna be very competitive this year as well, I think, with Victoria and Jar and they have a really good team in Jar as well, so it won't be easy, you know.
SPEAKER_03Uh I mean listen, uh it's interesting signing at the end of the day. I mean, it's 12. He was playing at Olympia Cosby, so he was playing at a decent level until last season during one of the during uh preseason friendly because they were in North Macedonia for a training and I saw that he also deposed to the with a free kick. So his quality is still there. I think he hopefully he shows some some glimpses of his quality. I won't expect you know the barb one of ten years ago, obviously. Um but hopefully he can manage to show some of his quality. Uh because if he does well, it can also attract other players, you know, at the end of the day, because uh they they say okay, we can come to Morton, we can play. And it's not like they okay, Fort 1 is a it's a very you know veteran age when it comes to football, but you know, it's an experiment that might work. Uh at the end at the other side though, I I hope that multi-clubs start to invest for in upcoming foreign players start to monetizing them, you know.
SPEAKER_02Sure.
SPEAKER_03I think the summer market has shown that there is uh plenty of money, plenty of appetite to invest. And uh that would be a true game changer. Because for me, I always say uh the multis family can become the European MLS, you know, bringing in players from near nearby countries, neighboring countries at a young age, invest in them, give them long-term contents, and then you monetize on them. And then you can start speaking about money from player trading as well. Uh but you know Valbonas here and hopefully hit as well as well. Hopefully you can bring some some people to the channeling matches as well. Uh I hope I can make it one of the games because I think I think it will be interesting as well. Uh we have to see you know his physical form, you know, whether he was whether he'll play all the matches, whether he'll play full game, whether how much he gets injured and everything. I don't recall any long-term injuries, he's scared to be fair, so I think physically he's yeah, I think care of himself. Yeah. I have some curiosities, you know, about his transfers. First of all, not about his his transfer, about you know his team mode, actually. Because first of all, I want to see his direction about the Synthologia pitch as well. I think he used to train and play in some of the best pitches. Santhologia pitch might not be the best.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. It's gonna be a bit of a contrast, yeah.
SPEAKER_03And then coming into play the centinery as well. Uh uh, but also whether he brought in some personnel with him, I don't know, physically or chef, you know, this and curious thing so there how he handled himself as well, you know, because I think he will he's accustomed to some kind of training in open and preparing athletic preparation. So I don't know whether he will be fully included in this code. I will have some personnel. I I'm interested in that um to see uh what he brought with him. But let's hope for a good show from Palvin as well.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I mean if it if it benefits the Maltese game and the Challenge League, then yeah, you know, you can't really argue with that, right? And fair play to Santa Lucia, they put their money where their mouth is. Hopefully, as you say, it puts mums on seats and we get some bigger attendances. And perhaps, you know, I mean, not that the Challenge League is struggling to attract good players, but you never know, it may even sort of improve the quality uh that it's able to attract. So yeah, time will tell. Um one other uh that I just wanted to um discuss, John Luca, was um I'm not sure if you saw uh I think it was Replay that reported uh in the last couple of days that uh Floriana's Gambian striker Mustafa Ja, he's been the subject of some serious interest from abroad. Um now, according to Replay, he has a 200,000 euro release clause. Um Leicester City in League One in England are interested, Larissa in the Greek Super League, um, and also some other clubs in uh the Middle East. Um Floriana's president has apparently said he's going nowhere, but surely if the 200,000 euro fee, which let's face it, if a club like Leicester wants to sign him 200,000 euros is small change for them, then surely he's he's gone, and that leaves a big hole for Floriana ultimately.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, uh it's it's an interesting um topic now in the in these last days of the transfer market as well. And it's not often to see a more based player, you know, linked with a with a clap of the pedigree of Leicester. Um last season when when Ja came to Floriana, um me and together with colleagues etc. immediately he saw that Ja is a very good player. He really had an impact in European games as well. Yeah, absolutely. I think that during the season he had much less of an impact on Floriana's game. Some of the games he especially in the second part of the season, he was stu he wasn't starting at all actually, he was on the bench. Um but doesn't mean he doesn't have good quality. Um and then he can he can play in better leagues. Now whether he can play in the league one or not, obviously that's a difficult that's another question. Um he stole his physical he has speed as well. And uh so I think he can he can fare well. There were other he was linked also with uh with Asian football as well, so I think that that would bring some some rich offer for him personally as well. Um he's a good player, no, I think now whether Florian or keep on or not as you did it depends on on whether the actual offer arrives arrives. Uh because if that money arrives, then obviously Floriana will need to to buy a replacement with the leak and started already. Um cash injection as well to the club, you know. Uh and with that money then you can immediately bring some other player.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_03These are the stories that we like now when it comes to Mortis with having water-based players linked to these major transfers. Now whether Lester are I had read somewhere that Lester were not actually interested in, but I I didn't verify the source to be fair, so I'm not sure. Okay. But these are the rumors of the of the summer transfer window. But I but I believe if Lester were mentioned, something has happened, some kind of a talk, some kind of a you know, an inquiry about the player, you know, which is pretty normal, you know, because one agent can speak to uh uh a club, a source from the club, and of course, yeah. But we that's that's a transfer that we we will keep an eye on, definitely.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it will be a very interesting one. And if if such an offer does come in, it'll be interesting to see what Floriana do. Um, as I say, I mean, I think once you've got a release clause, if it's met, there's very little the club can actually do about it. Um but um, you know, who knows what's in the small print. So uh I guess we'll we'll find out in due course. But it's great that player that clubs are actually looking at the Maltese League for some talent now. I think it sends a great message for young Maltese players who have ambitions on, you know, going overseas that you can play here, you can be found, um, and it can lead to better better things. So yeah, it's uh it's a positive development, I think. Yeah, cool. Okay, uh cool. Well, I think that just about um wraps up the episode, John Lucas. Uh I just want to say a big thank you for giving of your time as always. Um it's hugely appreciated, and I know that people enjoy listening to what you have to say. So thank you for joining us. Um and enjoy the rest of your evening, hopefully with power.
SPEAKER_03The power stayed loyal to all the podcast, so we're so we're grateful to that.
SPEAKER_00Yes. Happy days, and uh yeah, we'll um we'll uh come back with uh another episode soon. And um yeah, so thanks everyone for listening. Uh if you do have any um comments or critique, um I'll drop Gianluca's X handle in the description. Um obviously I'm at Pastizi P. Um or you can email admin at pastitzi and penalties.com as well. So uh yeah, it just remains for me to say thanks again, Gianluca, and thanks everyone for listening. Uh and we'll be back soon.