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Hello and welcome to the Two Robbies podcast, your destination for in-depth discussion and analysis of the Premier League. I'm Robbie Mustow. He's Robbie Earl. And here are today's topics. Michael Carrick's men are held to a 1-1 draw at Lead United, extending their worst ever start to a Premier League season. Nonimoke comes off the bench to deliver the winner as Arsenal edge Nottingham Forest 1-0il. Manchester City extend their unbeaten Premier League run with a 3-2 victory over Ipsswich Town. Brighton demolish Crystal Palace 5-nil in a statement victory, soaring up to third in the table. And Pedroto's brace fires Chelsea to a 2-nil win over Everton as the Blues secure their first clean sheet of the
season. That's what we have coming up in today's episode. Okay, Mr. must do. We're going to start our conversations at uh Ellen Road. Y I think based off Landro Martinez comments midweek criticizing the recruitment and the technical director that he called him Jason Wilcox. There was a lot of noise around Manchester United. It's a big game anyway, Rob. It didn't need any, you know, throwing more petrol on the fire, but that's what happened. Um Martinez started.
Was that the right decision by Carrick? And how did you see things play out? Yeah, I think it was given the circumstances. I mean, it's it's funny to say that because if he had other options, he might have been disciplined not to start the game, but yeah, like most important thing really is trying to win a game for the football club and the best team would have had him in it. So, I didn't disagree with playing him in there. And what he did do there, Michael Carrick, Rob, is he did change his setup for lead United and I think that's in some ways a little brave to do because, you know, you might expect the Man United are not going to change for leads and they're going to continue to do their thing and feel they can win that way,
but they I mean, it's not a huge change. It just meant Ahmad Dio was tracking Goodmanson, who's a really good left wing back up and down on that side. They kind of went together up in unison up and down and the rest of the team was kind of similar. That being said though with Andrea Santos Rob and Carlos Bleber that was the difference in this game that what he's talking about. Yeah. Which allowed Tielemans to play higher. Bruno was kind of through the center and Burma [clears throat] was on the left hand side. So it was a little different from Carrick. Rob do you like that kind of way that he's Don't mind it. I think there's a reality to that Rob that actually right now
where Manchester United are we do have to change a little bit the way we do to face the opposition. I'm sure Manchester United I'm sure Michael Carrick in time would like to be in a time when he goes, "We're Man United. This is how we play. We're going to get on with it." But isn't it funny because I know you speak a lot about the systems and how sometimes people can get hooked up on that, but it was almost like the Ruben Amaran system that they went back to more like that. And Amaran's last game was against Leads when he didn't get a win and got himself the sack. But I thought it was brave. I thought for the first half to be honest Rob I thought United were pretty good considering what all that had gone on and thing. I thought the two
midfield players showed promise. Tielemans higher up the pitch l look decent you know um to be fair Martinez and Maguire were doing the job and they were I thought they were well worth the one nil lead going in at halftime. Yeah, I think Tieleman's playing a little higher is interesting. I think when you look at the recruitment Robin and I think we're on the same page of this that we both agree that recruitment is so much of it. I think from last year you got Benjamin Chesco that maybe the juryy's still out given his injuries, but I think Bernard Burmo and Mattzkuna generally accept as being decent signings. Okay. Of course, this season's been a bit of disappointing
start particularly for Kuna. Um but the midfield is this summer's additions and I feel like for Willox, for the recruitment team at Man United, um these midfield players have got to come off. They've got to be at least successful as the forwards were. If not, then the trust starts to leave. Yeah. In terms of this the recruitment part of the club. Um I think Carlos Bella looks at the moment. Lovely. Yeah. There's more to come. He's got to get his rhythm has match with him. Yeah. And so to take your point a little bit further, Rob, I just feel like Manchester United it was interesting after the game Michael Carrick said like that was a
fresh start for us or some words to that effect as though like right from here on in we go. I just wonder, Rob, if we've seen a bit of a change in, it's the end of the Maguiars, you know, the Luke Shaw, maybe the Martinez, Bruno Fernandez, who knows. Is there a new group of maybe younger, more ambitious talent that's coming through this football club that Michael Carrick can start to build something on? Something that he can, you know, be a little bit more consistent than I think where he's talking about I think the mentality and the intensity is better. I think the main criticism going into this game was god they look slow. No legs. Yeah.
The whole city game and they've got off to a slow start and their running stats are low. I think maybe we talk about new is the center is the double pivot if you want to call it in today's terms. Andre Santos and Carlos Balaba. They're the young 22 year olds. They're the new shiny kind of midfield players. Not top end of the but the potential to be good players for a long period of time. And that's so key how they those two settle and others may need to come in. Mhm. I know Bruno's position will change. I think that's more the newness, Rob. I still I'm not buzzing about the backline and I know they've got a couple of players out. They got D. I just wonder if I'm talking
personalitywise and player-wise, is it time that Manchester United start to move on to build they can't move on from Harry. But what I'm trying to say is [clears throat] four or five years ago started a build of an Arsenal team and he has certain places and certain pieces that were there. you know, Saka was there from day one and you know, the odors and the rises and that came. I'm wondering is this the start of like a kernel of what Michael Carrick wants to build and Jason Wilcott wants to bring to the club eventually. So, we're not talking about Martinez. We're not talking about Luke Shaw and Meuire and all these, you know, where they're not. We're talking about a younger group
who are going to grow and it's going to take a few years, but this is what how we do it. Some yes and some no. For me, I think when we see more defenders come into the club at the moment, they're still going to need Martinez or Magguire or Shaw when he comes back. Maybe Yuro's part of that future. Yeah. Certainly the midfields I mean, and also Dit, he's been out forever, right? And I would feel like the best two center back partnership is probably is Lisandre Martinez and Matt Dit. And when and Shaw is back, you know, we know the backline defenders, the fullbacks need upgrading a little bit, but there is a if everybody's fit, there is a decent back four there. That midfield is
new now, a little bit different, a little bit more energy, a bit more legs between Tielemans and Mayu and Balaba and Santos and Fernandez who's more it should be regarded as a forward player. Now, for me, you can't trust him to be one of those to help out defensively. So, that I think is where he's talking. And second half, they got pushed back a little bit more. Lead United rev. Yeah, and it's physical. And you know, some Man United fans might say, well, we faded a little bit in the second half. I don't know. I think back to the start from where they are. They had to rally up a little bit and make sure they didn't lose the game. Of course, they came back um Dominic Cavalone scored his goal physical at the set piece, the knockdown
and leads in some ways deserve their point. Yeah, I thought it was about a fair result in fair result and lead I mean I look at the game Rob I'm like fair play to lead United here. Fair play. Like this time last year, we're like, you know, how are they gonna do? Yeah. Was on the line at one point. They're kind of looking like an established team as what the ownership obviously looking forward. I heard him say some similar in his press conference. He's asked about, you know, leads and where they can get to and the size of this club. I think there's a new stadium being talked of etc. And he said, Rob, he said, you know, we've got to learn lessons from
Brenford and Bright. Brighton. So those are the two clubs who we can be a blueprint for to make sure we progress to keep growing and be make sure we stay in this Premier League. If they can and this is such a massive if when we know that the technology and the data that Brighton and Brenford use if you could get close to that really hard with Lead United then we're talking a different it's a different ball game there because you're going to have the revenues of that support. It's a perfect marriage, isn't it? It really is. getting that technology right and the data right is obviously the genius part that those two owners do at those two clubs. But yeah, I mean they're going about it the right way
right now. Daniel Far has earned to be fair to him. Yeah, fair play. And uh I'm pleased for the club. I'm pleased for him. I'm I'm pleased for the Lead United fans. Long-suffering really, Rob, given where they came from and the brilliant teams I've had in the past. Michael Bridges was part of a brilliant Yeah, we spoke to him at Fanfest. Spoke to the FanFest. that they're edging quietly edging their way to that position and that for the club for a club with that expectation those fans are they got to be very quietly pleased with the work over the last 18 months yeah it's pretty good return really good work let's go to the forest ground mate where the reigning champions were headed to Nam forest had not scored in any
of the home games this season struggled at the top end of the pitch Arsenal generally winning goals by the odd goal generally scoring in second half kind of went to form in that respect Arsenal at some point having 70 odd% possession of the ball but I believe the only shot on target was the mani goal there obviously two ways of looking at this the first way the negative way is like wow this is a struggle and you know their goal difference right now they've only scored 11 when Brighton have scored 23 Manchester have scored 19 there's that side of it there's the other side of it which I'm tend to be on more to be honest Rob, is the defensive brilliance, the fact that they find a way, the squad
is you play the Arsenal squad now. You don't play the first 11. You just don't. If the first 11 are struggling in any way, the manager can turn the dial up. He can make the changes. You got a squad that's hungry. Everybody's hungry to be part of the best team, Rob. So Maker gets an opportunity. He's flying down the left flank. Abra has done the same coming off the bench. He starts this game and disappointing. He continues to disappoint me, Eza, of a man of so much quality. Rob, I want to come back to you on that very point because it was something we kind of touched on in the show and I thought when we get to the podcast I want to You've been we've both been in football a long time, been in dressing rooms, Rob,
I class myself as a hardworking midfield player. I would sweat every week. I'd run as hard as I can because I didn't have the natural skills of other players. Right. When I look at Ezra, Rob, what is what stops him being a consistent good, you know, play every week player? Cuz if it's if it for ability, Rob, I think he's got enough. Fix a box. He's got enough of his left foot, right foot can make things happen, score. What stops him being one of the first names on Micheletta's team sheet? Well, quickly, we know the four sides of uh assessing a player. Tactical, good. technical. Brilliant. It's the next two.
It's physically. Yeah. And mentally. And my question or my question of him would be, is he first off physical, Rob? Is he got theism? Is he got the engine to say, "Give me the ball again. Do I think when he's on top of his game, Rob, he gets a ball. He glides past two or three Peres. Is he Does he then need time to recover before he gets active again?" That's one side of it. Yeah. Maybe question that one.
All right. So then the final one is mentality. Yeah, that's the one. So you think he ain't got the mentality to keep going after the ball? Give me again. No, I'll make a run in behind. You're right. Give me and be busy and active. And if he had that, Rob, how that's not I don't I think that's who you are. Doesn't he want to be busy involved in the game at all times? Doesn't every player want to be involved? Center of attention likes to have these great m he scores great goals. the North London derbies and all them big scores
important goals he scored in cup finals for Crystal Palace and all that but when you're away at Nottingham Forest and it's a tough game I'm not sure I get Eza that day and that's about what's in there that's more about in his head so in that regard that's coachable then is it or I think it's motivation I think it's getting the best out of your body and understanding that for all that lovely great skill he's got to have a bit of the other stuff the great players in this league or work hard as well as play well. We're talking about the difference between really good Premier League.
Yeah. And I think he's he's he's got the other things to being great. I just don't know if he's got the mentality. Yeah. I hear that and I think that's part of it, but I still I mean I'd be shocked. Right. For example, if we went to Arsenal training ground and they were doing a bleep test. Okay. And I'd be shocked if he's in the top eight in terms of stamina. It's a good shout. No, he's a he glides, doesn't he? he's powerful. He's physical. Maybe and maybe that's part of why he can't be that busy player that's always on the He's going to burst and he needs to rest. He's a big lad. He's a big strong kind of build. So, you know, it's an interesting one for the manager [clears throat] to try and get more out of him. You've you got
the mental challenge, Rob, and the boost of other players coming in. And fair play to Marake who hasn't been a favorite with the fans and has is flattered to deceive a little bit. He can beat players. I said at halfime maybe he it's a game for him to come and do his dribble bit and it worked. So between all the subs that came in, Mica came in, Marino, Victor Yakarez, you're in timber. I love to bits, you're in timber again, they found a way. Is Arsenal. So interesting that you said. So is Arsenal's kind of options that you've got different players for different days with different qualities. So I haven't got the consistent one there. Some days I've got Madwacki, some days I can
play a bit of Eza. You know, it's got to be patchy. It's going to be patchy with those players given the minutes in other games they've got. the amount of games they got coming up. It'll get a quick look. Well, he's rested. He should be good to go. We're going to play against Nott and Forest. You know, that's the way that they play. Then it might suit him in the game. Of course, all bets are off because people that are on the bench are being rested in some ways, but are not starting the game. So, they're fresh to come on. So, I think it'll continue to be a suck it and see. Let's put this team out. They're freshest given the games we've got. And in the game, if we need something, obviously the idea for
Muaya is that they go a couple of goals up and they can cruise players off. I was looking down the games, Rob. The only time they had that luxury was commentary. When we were there, they won 3-0. Every other game this season, it's been tie. Yeah. But they found ways. I think Ar been a little sluggish in some ways um to find their best, but reassuringly that they can find it. He's just signed a new four-year contract, mate. He's on the big box. That's why Micheletta is the Arsenal manager. Stay with us as we break down Manchester City and Brighton. Victories next. Both of those V in the title race.
Okay, Robbie. Um, let's move on to the current leaders of the Premier League. Much talked about and debated. Manchester City, um, they beat Ipsswichtown this weekend, Rob 3-2. Um, some of the same things are happening. Harland scoring goals. Man City look great going forward. They're winning games. Bouyatti started in midfield alongside Kovichic. They've got the ability. Faux Foden started as number 10. Yeah, they've got the squad, the ability to rotate, to change. the managers deflecting all the pressure surprisingly well and they keep on winning exactly that um to the point maybe what was different Phil Fodm back in the starting 11 after the three match ban gets his goal I think it's over 300 days ago that he scored
big season for Phil Fodm Rob he's not now with Pep a different manager Churkeyy's playing well and others so competition for places now know he's a local boy and they love him but he's going to have to earn his spot I got to I've got to hats off to Moresca, Rob. He it's only his second season in the Premier League. He's he's gone into a hornets's nest with all that's gone on and we don't need to go over that again. But to keep everything pretty level, seven straight wins in his first seven games as a Premier League record. I mean, fair play to the guy, you know, because I wondered, Rob, whether he could grasp that dressing room, those big personalities and then they would listen to him and they follow him.
I tell you what, he's made a pretty good start. I think we'd always say, Rob, before the season, the first few Well, in fact, training sessions and meetings and then the games, the and we can speak from experience here, even you know, a level not as high as Man City, you believe in the guy. If the training's good, the meetings are kind of interesting and the games you start to win and enjoying your football and scoring goals and winning games. Yeah. Then he's the man. Yeah. And until that changes, until there's a big run. So that was the hardest thing after going after Pep, which I think most people accepted at this club.
Fenzo Moresco is like, "Wow, that's you know you're you're good, but I mean you know Pep in terms of your resume." So that's really good. I mean Erin Harland's like what's he seven and seven in the Premier League. I mean it that continues to be astonishing. Got eight and seven. So and this team is a team of galacticos is like wherever you look Rob you know you can bring in Phil Foden from Jerky you've got you know Ilenai and Douku Smenoa takes a rest I mean it is quite glad he looks a player by the way don't well we've said that for a long time now and I think makes play makes those players better that's what the manager said yeah and he and he's one of them Rob where he's got everything size height power skill
vision sensible calm we'll see is defensive now like Roger is exceptional in defensive side of things as well. The more we see Boyetti, we'll find out more. But that looks like another amazing sign and I know we don't want to keep mentioning it, but sadly you do think back of how they've got this squad. Yeah. And the rules that were broken earlier on and this is on the back of what was done earlier on. But trying to park that, you can only admire credit what Yeah. what you're seeing and it ain't these players fault what this manager's fault. Let me go to my one little Man City concern. You know, it's like a little lit that Have you got one? Okay.
Center backs. Ruben Diaz Gay. You're a bit I'm not all in. Gay's form's not been great probably from the start of the season. Gave penalty away again. He's he's he's just been a little bit looked like he's just not quite as reliable as No. And Ruben Diaz Rob I think has lost his step. Lost on him early. I've dropped on him a just because these little situations where I see oh Diaz reads out oh look at I'm seeing now him stretching for those things him lunging for those things because he's not quite there now I'm not saying they've gone by any means and I'm not saying I don't know you know whether mentally they're
in the right place but it's just a little thing that I would say they're conceding a few more goals than we've seen City in the past and I'll follow that with Ruben Diaz because once you mentioned it probably a few weeks ago now I looked at him too a bit more closely and I'll tell you what he does as well where he used to be tight and aggressive to an attacker. He's given himself five yards. Yeah. It's like, wow, he's really worried about the ball going over the top. He's got he's got to turn sprint. So, yeah, keep an eye on Yeah, keep an eye on that.
Cuz I know who we know can play at right back and coming is powerful and all of a sudden Diaz is a leader, right? And [clears throat] sometimes it's harder to drop those guys when they're so dominant in the dressing room. It never looks so well and then to sit him on the bench for a younger Kusanov. But let's be honest about it. That might be a call. And Kuzan, yeah, I'd rather have them be behind me as a midfield player, I think, than Diaz. Given this worries. Listen, everything's going seven out of seven. Very little work, Rob. I mean, I like them. I like Yeah, I like him. I like Gary O'Neal. You listen to his press conference. He's honest. He talked about Emerson, the kid who he bought
from Tulus. He played against him. He brought about Wataru. We added um Saltsburg. Yeah. Abdara. Y 20 years of age. Watara. Yeah, good players and um you know they had a go and you know when they made it 3-2 with the penalty all of a sudden it's like oh you know could they get something they were flat out I in the first half I think trying to stop C yeah just to stay in the game and Gary O'Neal did say in his press conference that we always look at on the Thursday of the Friday that he might make changes for this he said I love what we do and I believe in what we do but sometimes you
go away from home to Man City you I mean you've got to make some changes you've got to accept that they're going to dominate um and he did say we want to be strong defensively, but we do want to offer a threat. And you score two goals, you lose 3-2. That's kind of what he thought might happen and obviously not quite get enough to get any points out of it. But yeah, I think they've had a really good start, Rob, given what they've done in the past when they've been in the Premier League, which now look at the table. 10th, nine points from seven. That's really good. Well done. Let's talk about one of the big rivalries. I don't think they called a derby. It's called a rivalry uh from the AMX. Brighton facing Crystal Palace. Not
a lot of love between the two clubs. Well, a bit of distance between the two clubs. If we take what we saw today, Rob, Brighton five, Crystal Palace nil. I know you were doing the highlights in this. Didn't see all the game, but we're doing the highlights and keeping an eye on it. I mean, a couple of brilliant goals and magnificent sort of football. Oh my goodness. Yeah. You to me about Brighton and why are they doing what's changed, Rob? The football's always been so good, the transitions, now the goals. I mean, they've scored 23 goals, the highest go scorers in the Premier League. Brighton
and Hov Albby. Pascal Gross is a big part of it. We love our Pascal. We love our Pasco Gross. And to bring him back to the club, um the Diego Gomez goal. For anybody who's not seen it, please watch it, search it, look out our um social media channels, our NBC sports channels. An amazing goal from the halfway line. Beautiful strike. They're scoring set piece goals, Rob. They're flooding forward from midfield. Um Yasin Ayari, uh brilliant midfield player. Swedish midfield play. We saw him in the World Cup. Again, another one of those. They pick up from somewhere like you said earlier in the show, Rob, we don't know.
You know, we have heard some of these guys and yet they come and they're comfortable. I mean, it's it's remarkable. You other teams bring in players you've not heard of and they look a little uncertain. Yeah. Well, there's the there's all the lines in it because most say, "Oh, they got to give them time to get used to the Premier League." Yeah. You know, Fernandez Pardo and Vertz and the like. People go bright and somehow it seems to happen. Yeah. I don't know if sometimes Rob, they go on loan to places where they maybe get used to the Brighton way of playing and ways. I'm not sure that's
part of Well, of course, the main thing is that Brighton recruitment, they select players that fits there. They've got a mission statement of how this club wants to play football based on what the fans want to see and they recruit on the back of that. So, all these players that come into the club, I'd say bar none, are comfortable on the ball, that can play, as we say, they can move the ball. They got good IQ. They know they make right decisions. They're all comfortable on the ball with their skill and their ability. Maxim Diper Bosagi had a brilliant game today. You know, Chmer Andre, the new kid from Spain, comes over and looks like they
just fit in the team effortlessly and to get five and against Crystal Palace. They're both European football now. Of course, they got to consider themselves. And Crystal Palace, Rob, just I guess quickly switching to them if you're ready to do that. Um, it's worrying times for them. Pierre SGE is and Rebecca asked me before this game, you know, what's different from Glasnner. And I basically said what I've seen and it's not I haven't seen every single game is they're more open. They're more expansive. He wants to play. And when I say to play, I mean by being technical. We want to be proactive. We want to find ways to give you problems. And that's okay. But in doing that, you're often a little bit vulnerable. So
continue today. banged in five goals against them. They got two wins, Rob. So, they're kind of away from the bottom of the table right now, but they've conceded 17 goals. Yeah. And that's by three. Am I right? By two. Ipsichtown conceded 50. That's the most goals in the Premier League. Goals against a problem. It's a problem. And he needs two or three decent results put together PSG or I'm telling you mate it things will happen. things will happen to that football club. They cannot afford to be down at the bottom of the league fighting relegation, you
know, doing a West Ham that this football club has been through too much, has had success, has got great ownership, they're not going to allow that to happen. Isn't it amazing how e, you know, even after some real established years in the Premier League that any Premier League team, any team, if things don't quite go well in the markets or manager changes, manager wants to leave, he's had great success. had a brilliant couple of seasons and all of a sudden always the right guy players have left some are unhappy now there's a changes to the backline Chris Richards now is the experienced main stay back there I do like Quinton Timber
the twin brother you're in of Arsenal Timber is a midfield player plays with Palace and he does get forward he makes things happen I think he's a really good addition but again part of the he's a forward guy and maybe in the past you've had a Jeff Lur in there with Adam Warton a little bit more defensive minded so whether PSG will tweak things to be a little bit more cautious. We have to wait. It's interesting Rob because you know this week and you know just before we move on again I was watching you know the European football and the Conference League and Europa League and what smacks what hits home is how superior
the Premier League teams are Rob. So when you're you know Crystal Palace in and you go in Europe, you might be better off than when you play in the Premier League because the Premier League teams are better, more physical, play with more interest, bigger budgets and so you know the Pierre Sarges, the Matis Yislers of the world who come in with this preconceived idea of how they want to play, I think sometimes just have to look at this league and go what you know this is a little bit more. This is a little bit different than the football that they've come from. Just wrapping up the segment, Rob, back on to Brighton Hov Albium. That was early yet and we're not sort of getting carried away. Um, but where can Brighton realistically look to go? I mean,
Brighton could be in the top four at the end of the season. at the end of the season if they can keep be incredible. Champions League football. The amount of players they've sold over season. I mean, I know we're going to do an underappreciated play. If I could do an underappreciated club, it'd be Brighton Hov. Do you think though that the love is growing for this club and the Brenford because that's telling the stories like quite rightly. But the news, the headline news is Manchester United, there's Manchester City, is Liverpool, is Arsenal, is the big boys. And
it's for people like us to get it out there to say to people, "Go watch this team." By the way, you'll enjoy their football. You'll enjoy the recruitment and you'll enjoy that a club can come from the Championship and come into the Premier League and be a blueprint for many others. I'll tell you, I'll give it this much credit to Brighton, right? If I was going back to live in the UK right now, I wouldn't mind living in the Brighton area and having a season ticket, the AAX Stadium and watching that football. Make that two week the two Robbie show from the AMX stadium every week. I mean, it's like you're going to see good football. You're going to see goals. You're going to see some star players that go on and do great
things and you understand that given the size of this club, that's going to happen. But then you know what? Next summer, you're going like, who's this kid? This kid from Greece or is this kid from Paraguay? And yet it's like, wow, okay, skill. I mean, it must be brilliant to be a better time to be a Brighton fan. Really great. Right mate, that's the end of segment two. The action keeps coming. Chelsea and Liverpool got big wins this weekend. That's coming up next. Okay. Everton nil, Chelsea 2, Rob. And tell me if I'm wrong, did I see something different from Chelsea and which could be significant tweak from the manager and how it might affect the team going forward.
You're talking about the system in the personel the first clean sheet for a million months. certainly for this season Alonzo and just I think it's an eye to saying that despite what they've got the top end of the pitch and I went online say I think they got the best front three in the Premier League if I'm talking generally um but at the other end of the pitch we're conceding too many goals before this game they scored 15 and conceded 13 now they've got their first clean sheet so scored 17 conceded 13 and when we doing our homework I was kind of scratching my head like is this an Alonzo team. So went back to the Leverkusen days, 16 clean sheets out of 34 games there. So nearly 50% of the games. So he knows and he's a clever man that you can't
keep conceding the amount of goals if you want to be successful. Yeah. Absolutely right. And his words afterwards said exactly the same thing. Like I enjoyed that. That's how we want to play football. We want to be entertaining, but we don't want to concede goals. And he knows that's not the future. So I think the and we've talked about it, Rob, Moses Kaiseda's return is massive. He's a beast of a midfield player and protecting aggressive controlling and alongside Jordan Henderson who I got to be honest when Henderson signed I'm like wow I know they want some experience but that he's right at the end of his career but given the team around him and the wing backs either side and a front three that are dynamic and three behind
you know maybe this is a team and not playing every few days they're not in European football that Henderson by the way could have a little partnership with Kaisedo with his experience and his moving people around and his motivations and his sometimes his good delivery and everything that he is, he might get away with it and play a lot of games which Well, there's two interesting things you say there, Rob. The first is I've looked at a few stats. Apparently, his running stats are the highest of any player playing for Chelsea. He's getting over the pitch. So, it's not slowing down that way. And there was a really interesting moment in the game. It was about 10 or 15 minutes in and Jack Greish and Moises Casedo had words and there was a little bit going
on between the two and in the past Canad's almost got drawn into that and then wanted to make a challenge and Jordan Henson came across and just tapped him on his chest as if like there's bigger things than this. Get on with the game. But also, didn't he get involved in another in squared is more aggressive? Yeah. and Jordan Henderson just like he's going to know the time to be aggressive and to be protective of his team and know the times let him go in and show just what Chelsea in terms of the experience they need in that squad and I give Jab Allonzo credit there Rob because like you I'm thinking oh he's bought Henderson for the dressing room you know to be the guy around the training ground that he scored a couple
of goals last week he was hugely important again this week and uh that two in front of the back three whether it is or is really important for Chelsea because we do know with Chelsea when they go forward mate they get runners in there and they create chances and you know kind of the benchmark a little bit is when you attack with five and you have five behind it and I think with a back three and Henderson in Kisa it allows Hat on the left hand remember the goal came from Hat the first goal really good play for Pedro Netto and not our underappreciated but absolutely deserves a mention is Pedro Netto Rob two goals we don't we talk about the front three at Chelsea a lot but doing a in a difficult role as Pedro Netto. He
kind of is a wing back now. He might he probably does get away with it a little bit more coming back fully but he's there to do it if needed. If he plays [clears throat] against a team that play really well he's needed to come back he will do that and to get goals from that position and being created by the other side. It isn't just about the front three. We've talked about them the midfield too. But if the wing backs can add productivity and goals and assist then doing that really good. Neto's top performer isn't he? who was top performer. Um, can Chelsea have the consistency to be top three, top four?
Yeah, definitely. I look at the table right now, Rob, and we were disappointed with Chelsea because a part of the season's narrative was these new managers, Morenzo at City and Shabby Alonzo and Ola at Liverpool and Alonzo had me most intrigued because, you know, we see some Bundesig, but we don't see that many and we hear the numbers and the stats he did at Leakuz and we know about the Real Madrid situation there and now they're in fourth place in the Premier League. There must be a feeling like this is more like it, guys. And Henderson will be like, "Okay, that's the standards now." Yeah. I mean, Everton away is not easy, right?
No. I mean, that's the place and to go there and to be really good going forward and solid and very little drama defensively. I mean, it's the first clean sheet for nine months that is there. And uh do you think Rob as well and I know a lot was made of it at the time, but just being the manager rather than the head coach running the football club puts Alonzo in a bit of a different position. He's not beholden to, you know, this and this the technical, the sporting director. He's part of the decisions as part of the strategy of the football club. And I think that's an important little sort of difference that he has.
Yeah. And to follow on from that, Rob, I don't know if you feel differently. I feel there's a different vibe about Chelsea Football Club, right? I think I think there was very much a project and a player investment business and changes and people People didn't like it, did they? I just think general public like look at Chelsea. Yeah. What? This isn't what we were all about. We used to win. I feel like now there's a little bit more consistency in the team. The managers a little bit more focused on we got to get it right. This is about winning about what the fans want. They want the team to win. And maybe it feels a little different that this guy is going to tweak his team for winning and not being about changing
people in this big squad. I think he's going to be a little bit more consistent with his uh with his lineups. Yeah. Okay mate. Let's move it to the G-Tech because I thought this was really intriguing game. Brenford hosting Liverpool. Liverpool coming off the 63 win against Lask in the Champions League. Barka getting a hat-tick and a good day uh for men. But going to the gtech, Rob, I got to be honest, I was one of those where wouldn't have been surprised if Brenford ran all over Liverpool, but it didn't happen. They started off well and started but then obviously few things happened in the
game that changed the sort of sway of the match. Well, I think um again this isn't that window where there's different games going on at the same time, right? And we're trying our very best to get eyes on all the games. Um but what I saw the first half Brenford looked every bit as good as Liverpool and I think we would expect that Rob after being there and watch them play firsthand for the first weekend and subsequently the squad the way that they're such a balanced team with all areas like functioning really well. And then of course was it right at the end of the first half? Yeah, just before halftime the red card and Yho Yamuk and I think we are so programmed now right with the laws of the game. We both
we all know we have a researcher in the corner. We're all over the laws and we I mean rightly so we technically say well you know put his head in there that technically is a violent action. Um and I think Rebecca I'm not sure why you felt it. Did you feel it was a red or did you think it I didn't think it was a lot of contact but if his head hits the other guy's head then it technically be has to say should it Rob no because that's where we're saying what we should look at a little bit like they've looked human nature should you know part of it and say actually he's not leading contact come on but there's not a lot of damage but I think
it's great he makes it gray that way Robin so I think you know the law makers decide if he puts his head into his other head he's And I know what you're saying because it kind of changes our outlook of the game. Three match ban. I know the hair. It felt almost like it was a chest to chest and his head was just there anyway. But I mean it's listen at the end of the day it's a silly action. He's done it and then he's got himself in an awkward position. He they go down to 10 men at halfime and then they get second yellow. um late in the game for Yan out which probably you know the game might have been decided by then but you know unusual for Brenford team because one of
the things they usually very well controlled and end up getting into that kind of situation I don't normally yam look with that sort of aggression nature but to be fair Jeanjak is right in his face and it's like I don't know I guess he's right there into it so that I always feel like when you're really excited about a game and it really starts off really good very even it's so disappointing that you get that particular Liverpool. Liverpool stepped up. Alexander Zak, five Premier League goals now. Yeah, I mean he wasn't super active in the game. Um good really good finisher was more active than I thought and when you kind of consider his numbers and stuff and what he did in the game, the chances that he created.
Um so nowhere near where they want to be, but again, you look at the league table, Rob, they're fifth. They're one point behind Chelsea and those again we talked the managers the new managers at these big clubs how are they going to get on and there's no way that and Ola has the Liverpool team playing the way he wants to but early on seven games in to be in and around not too far away so hard to match City's 21 points right now but he'll be fairly confident Rob that this team can get better and getting these results like this is um is a good way in the interim isn't it? Yeah, and funny enough, Rob, the big game for them next week. They're at home next Sunday to Bright. So, what a good game that's going to be.
By the way, that's a little test of where we are. A little measurement of his team and his group. But listen, get ease out back scoring if he can try and get a bit of confidence into Viet. You know, Fringon played well midweek. You know, there's bits of the game that are coming together. But, you know, Zobasai was the one Rob I just wanted to mention. He played Zobas, didn't he? And there's, you know, it was an injury down. It was an injury that he played and then Zazlai came off with the injury. Now, I don't know if it's the same injury, but that could be a worry if it means that becomes long term because he's quite an important player for them in the middle.
Yeah. And Gako was only fit enough to be on the bench for this game. So, that'll continue. Champions League continues, doesn't it, this midweek and more games come thick and fast for Liverpool, but that's a really nice three points for them and trying to get back to somewhere well I think the fans would expect of a Liverpool team. I think still short of that. way short of that, but we'll see. We'll see how they go. And Keith Andrews and Brenford, it's just like they have to brush themselves off and that I think they were unbeaten, weren't they, until this first defeat of the season.
Yeah. I mean, they're still sat in a real good spot, sixth place. And I think he would be frustrated with that because that was a little benchmark. And when you get a man sent off, it does change the game. And you know, I'd love to have seen more of that. And we could be sat here, Rob, talking about, you know, Brenford being right in the top four right now with beating Liverpool. So, but it wasn't a be. Liverp will take the points and Brenford will certainly go again for sure. Okay mate, that ends segment three. Stick around as we recap the remaining results from match week seven and preview a massive London derby next. So, we had a very interesting game on
Saturday. It's St. James's Park Rob. two teams, Newcast and Aston Villa that have had huge changes in the summer. They lost a lot of their star players on both sides and they spent similar amount of money in replacing those players. $375 million for Newcast and $393 million for Aston Villa. So, it's always interesting, yeah, who's done a better job and who replaced and who will be more excited about going forward and who can rebuild their team quickly. And I think from what I saw had a very strong opinion on this and Aston Villa and the players that they've bought have more impact and are more exciting than Newcastle United.
Is that fair? Absolutely fair. Um when [clears throat] you look at the two teams Rob these are definition about Aston Villa. This looks a better understanding of what they're trying to do and how they're trying to do it. What I would say Robin and it's kind of point I made weekend that you really don't know with players till you bring him into your football club you know um Asenville go and spend 80 million on Manzambia player we saw in the World Cup and said you know he looks interesting he's got all the tools you know Newcastle by Fernandez Pardo for around 70 odd million you know good reputation in you looks quick one's hit the league running and looks a real threat the other one is struggling
a little bit and the manager's talking about you know the usual line he needs time and quite right I think he's only 21 years of age but there is a risk of and you just don't know how people are going to settle and what I would say about Unai Emry and Manzambi mentioned it after the game and um I think it was Nicholas Chapton actually got man but Manzambi was there with him and he said I wanted to come to Aston Villa uh it's a big club and I wanted to work with the manager and I think that tells me that he believes not only can he maybe win silverware as they've done with the Europa, but he can become a better player and that's what Unai Emry brings to the table that maybe Yizel has got to build that reputation.
And you made the point, Rob, as well that Manzambi had a chance to go to Newcastle, didn't he? Yeah, he could have gone. They looked like the deal was done and then it was hijacked by Villa. Yeah. So, so a little bit of the of players selecting certain clubs maybe this summer has hurt Newcast where they wanted several really like top players that look really good that didn't manage to land them and it's now to Aston Villa's benefit. I mean I think we are going to go for our underappreciated performer which is Joan Manzambi the $18 million signing. He scores his goal 20 just turned 21 years of age and I said on the show Rob he looks like a player that is built for
the Premier League and what it requires in terms of physicality, hunger, confidence, physical attributes. He's a young. He's looks I mean he just looks like and we're in danger of kneejerk going over the top. Yeah. That he looks like a player that could be such a effective Yeah. impressive, productive player for many seasons. One of the strengths that I saw about him, Rob, that he pops up in very different awkward spots for defenders, but in all those spots when he gets the ball, he looks comfortable. He's never like, you know, a little bit off balance or he's stuck wide. He's got a real good understanding football IQ of where to be.
He can dribble Rob. He can dribble. He can play one twos. He can get in the box and scores his head up. He can bounce off defenders. He's big and strong. I thought there's a real connection between him and Jackson. Looks like they like playing with each other. The you know the there's a partnership growing. I'm try I'm trying to think Rob who's who's he like who in the past have we would we have said and he's not Dr. because he was it's funny you say that top end of the pitch. He's not a striker. He's a different Yeah. But he is that sort of he has got that sort of mobility and that power and that impressive physical nature when he moves around the field he's sort of like you see him coming. He looks impressive doesn't he?
Absolutely. But as a midfield player also Iraham Embay that came on Robin he's 18. Yeah. And he looks dynamite. I mean he was so quick comes inside almost got a shot away when he came inside didn't he? So you know this goes back to what we always say about recruitment and looks like Aston Villa have done nice work. Can I just say as well quickly on Uni, I think it was his 100th Premier League win as a manager. You know, he's up there with some of the very best, but the thing I took away from um his press conference, less so on the pitch because on the touch line, he looks a little bit unhappy at times. It sounded to me, Rob, that he's excited about this new project. He's excited about this new
group of players that he's he's got, you know, a new turnover. He's lost the Tielemans. lost the Rogers, but you know, this is a Rogers replacement for half the money. $80 million you get nearly $160 for Rogers and he looks like he's enjoying the challenge. It really does. It's a brilliant win for Aston Villa that sets them on their way, I think. Now, Rob, just other remaining games. Couple more to quickly mention. Bournemouth two, Sunderland nil. There's a red card for Kevin Danzo in this one. Bournemouth desperately need a victory. Sunderland are surprisingly down there, Rob. I mean, we love Sunderland and Reges Lee. Yeah.
I mean, is it the European factor they're playing? Well, I'll say and apparently Muki the fullback has come out today on after the game and talked about like we've got to get hold of ourselves. We're we're not you know not enough effort and then there's not enough focus which thought was brave but actually is honest and I'm sure Raish Lee will be saying the same to his team can't concentrate on Europe and Premier League Premier League. They've got to stay in there. Absolutely right. Fulham won whole city nil. Um must win for Fulham mate at this stage. You know, the pressure was on against a newly promoted team. Alex Wobi, who had an excellent game, got the important goal. They did get a record. Ryan
Sessing on with a silly foul late on in the game that could have hurt his team, but he didn't. They got the first win and you know, it's a sigh of relief, I think, for Fulham and the fans and for Avar Abaloa. I mean, you needed that like a little bit of confidence in what he's trying to bring. There was a little bit of talk about the players that maybe weren't sure about his methods and this openness and this expans expansive play that he really prefers as a Spanish coach, but that's such a big win to get everybody on board. And not that they're miles away from the bottom zone. They're still kind of in around there, but it's early yet. Maybe the message will click in a little bit and maybe they get some more wins.
We're doing this podcast on Sunday, Rob, there is one game tomorrow. It's Tottenham Hotspur versus Coventry. Commentary off the back of that 4-1 win against Newcastle last time out. Tottenham with the 1-1 draw at Manchester United. That will make them feel a little bit better. That game's tomorrow, 3 PM Eastern time on the USA Network. Coverage begins. Oh, yeah. Sorry. 2 p.m. I know you're with Danny tomorrow. Obviously, another interesting game. Yeah. And then when you look forward, Rob, like for next Saturday, 12:30 p.m. Eastern time on Peacock and NBCSN is Chelsea versus Tottenham Hospital.
We have as a game, my friend. We have another London derby. Well, based on if Spurs don't beat Coventry, That game could be huge. Yeah. I mean, I'm so interested now in Chelsea. Yeah. I'm so interested because of what we've just seen this weekend. And of all the things I've taken away from this weekend, the Chelsea clean sheet, knowing what they got up front. Yeah. And knowing what Henderson can bring and wing backs that are producing, it's kind of exciting. So, that's going to be a really difficult game for Tottenham.
Well, I'm excited. Well, excited. I'm interested in Tottenham because I think deserve is a good manager. some of their numbers, Rob, and the position isn't as bad as maybe their position in the league. They haven't won a game yet, but at some point, you've got to start winning matches. At some point, you've got to start putting the ball in the net. They've scored three goals this season. I think Sanki, Gallagher, and Van Hecker, you know, three goals in six games when you spent the kind of money they've spent. And Mush hasn't particularly looked um great hasn't particularly, you know, caught fire. You know, Deser's got to work this out a little.
Yeah. But isn't he is he's in the process of it. Correct. And that's why I'm interested in the next part of it. Yeah. Cuz the goal against Man United, the late Dominic Saleni goal felt it don't know why the performance was really good. It felt like they deserve something in that game. But for him to get that goal, for him to be the guy to score that goal, he is the guy amongst all other forwards that's got to feel good. He's got to get some confidence from scoring and he I'm sure he would have done for that goal against Man United Manchester United. So that's what the manager will build on. I think when you look at a lot of their play and the numbers like all the stats
and the touches in your position box and all this stuff, it's all pretty good. They look pretty sound basically defensively. So I do expect them to climb. I mean that and we'll see how it goes on Monday for them against commentary. I mean that is a that's a chance to tomorrow you've got to feel like yeah let's take it from Man United to get a victory against home form alone from Spurs hasn't been great is it? another thing. Yeah, he's got to turn that around. And then you you go to Chelsea, Rob, and you know, there's no love loss between these two clubs. So, there's an added spice to that game. So, you know, hopefully for Spurs fans coming off a win against commentary, give them a confidence heading into
Deserby because Zer's got the smarts. Yeah. To find a little game plan to maybe upset because it's a different system is that three at the back for Chelsea. Maybe Deserby can figure something out to give him some problems in that midfield area. maybe play around uh Pennington a little bit in the middle of the park possibly with Kaisedo. We'll see. But yeah, what a game that is next Saturday afternoon. Yeah, when you look at the league, Rob, it's kind of funny, you know, and you know, also I think everybody expected there, but you know, United haven't really kicked on as maybe as much as we think. We see Palace and Bournemouth teams who we've seen
generally do a little bit better that they're struggling and you know it just feels like you know the next six weeks the next you know in another six games we'll start to get a feel of where people really are. I always look at 10 games Rob you know you've had five games home and away mo most likely and you're just starting to see the ones that have struggled initially Liverpools and Chelsea's to pull themselves in around that top six. Uh, of course Manchester United is the one that will be of most concern at the moment. Um, but I mean the Man City news has been big. Yeah. The way they've been playing has been big.
Yeah. Um, and Arsenal, you know, again, look pretty imperious really whether they play. Can Brighton do a Leicester City, my friend? Yeah, they can. We can always do. Of course they can. We can always do. Listen mate, we're going to wrap things up. If you listen to us, be sure to follow the two Robbies podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your podcast and leave us a review. And if you prepare to watch us, catch the two Robbies podcast on YouTube, NBC Sports Network, and NBC Sports Now.
Thank you all for supporting the Two Robbies Podcast. But for now, I'm Earl. He's Musty. Together with this, Robbies. Thanks for watching, listening. Safe, stay healthy. It's a good night from me and it's good night from him. Good night. Hi there, I'm Rebecca Low, studio host of the Premier League on USA Sports, NBC, and Peacock. Don't forget to hit subscribe to watch more videos all season
